title: Evidence for liquid-phase cirrus cloud formation from volcanic aerosols: climatic implications.
abstract: Supercooled droplets in cirrus uncinus cell heads between -40 degrees and -50 degrees C are identified from Project FIRE [First ISCCP (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project) Regional Experiment] polarization lidar measurements. Although short-lived, complexes of these small liquid cells seem to have contributed importantly to the formation of the cirrus. Freezing-point depression effects in solution droplets, apparently resulting from relatively large cloud condensation nuclei of volcanic origin, can be used to explain this rare phenomenon. An unrecognized volcano-cirrus cloud climate feedback mechanism is implied by these findings.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sassen