Atmospheric Fungi

Atmospheric fungi are microscopic spores and cellular fragments suspended in the air.  Emitted from soil, decaying vegetation, and agricultural operations they act as massive organic aerosols.  They influence regional weather by triggering cloud formation, but can pose significant respiratory and allergic problems to human health.

Ecological and atmospheric roles:-

• Cloud Nucleation: Fungal spores act as highly efficient condensation and ice nuclie.  Water vapour in the atmosphere freezes or condenses around them, driving the hydrological cycle and precipitation patterns.

• Organic Aerosols:  Fungi comprises a staggering around 23 percent of total organic Aerosols emitted into the earth's atmosphere.

Environmental and climate impact:

Fungi spores act as highly effective cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclie (IN).  They actively trigger water droplets and ice crystals to form, significantly influencing precipitation patterns.

Fungi spores are released into the air from soil, decomposing plants, and water, constituting a massive 23% primary organic aerosols, which drives nutrient cycling.

There are hundreds of species of airborne fungi.  Due to lightweight they can travel thousands of kilometres across the globe on wind currents.

Breathing high concentration of fungi spores can cause respiratory ailments like allergy and asthma.

 








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