Title:Relevance of Microorganisms in Causing Rain and Snow
Volume: 19
Issue: 4
Author(s): Rimple Kaul, Sunita Devi*, Megha Sharma and Subhash Chand
Affiliation:
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Forestry, Dr. YSP University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni,
Solan, Himachal Pradesh -173230, India
Keywords:
Global-warming, hydrologic-cycle, bio-precipitation, ice-nucleation, Pseudomonas syringae, water scarcity.
Abstract: The Earth's climate is influenced by both natural phenomena (solar fluctuations,
oceanic patterns, volcanic eruptions, and tectonic movements) and human activities
(deforestation, CO and CO2 emissions, and desertification), all of which contribute to ongoing
climate change and the resulting global warming. However, human actions are a
major factor in exacerbating global warming and amplifying its adverse impacts worldwide.
With rising temperatures, water evaporation from water bodies and soils intensifies,
leading to heightened water scarcity, particularly in drought-prone regions. This scarcity
compounds rainfall deficits, posing significant challenges. Precipitation, essential for the
biosphere's hydrological cycle, replenishes much of the world's freshwater. It occurs when
condensed water vapor in the atmosphere falls back to Earth as rain, drizzle, sleet, graupel,
hail, or snow due to gravity. Literature highlights the indispensable role of bacterial
populations in this process, termed bio-precipitation. This phenomenon begins with bacterial
colonization on plant surfaces, with colonies subsequently dispersed into the atmosphere
by winds, triggering ice crystal formation. Through their ice nucleating property,
these microbes facilitate the growth of larger ice crystals, which eventually melt and precipitate
as rain or snow. This mechanism aids in nutrient transfer from clouds to soil or
vegetation. Pseudomonas syringae stands out as the most notable microorganism exhibiting
this ice-nucleation property, serving as the primary source of ice nucleators driving
bio-precipitation. Despite limited literature on "rain and snow-causing microorganisms,"
this review comprehensively explores the conceptual background of bio-precipitation, the
involved bioprocesses, and the critical role of bacteria like P. syringae, offering insights
into future research directions and patent innovations.
