{
  "id": 1910358,
  "title": "Scientists discover a natural Arctic cloud factory missing from climate models",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/scientists-discover-a-natural-arctic-cloud-factory-missing-from",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-18T17:34:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ScienceDaily",
    "slug": "sciencedaily",
    "url": "https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260816044839.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Scientists have uncovered a previously unknown natural phenomenon in the Arctic capable of dramatically increasing the number of particles that form clouds. This discovery, published in Nature Geoscience on August 5, could significantly impact predictions of cloud cover, sunlight reflection, and the Arctic's response to climate change. The study, led by the University of Birmingham with international collaborators, provides the first real-world evidence of a powerful particle-forming process occurring at the boundary where Arctic sea ice meets open ocean. Marine life and sunlight collaborate to generate a chemical cocktail that seeds the atmosphere with particles influencing cloud formation. A surge of cloud-forming particles near the edge of sea ice has been observed, increasing by fifty times within a single day. As Arctic ice retreats, more open ocean exposes a larger area for particle formation, potentially altering cloud cover and Earth's radiation balance. The research, supported by the Natural Environment Research Council, was conducted during an expedition to Greenland and the Davis Strait in 2022. The study reveals the presence of a previously unknown class of atmospheric compounds called iodine-containing oxygenated organic molecules, which aid in the growth of newly formed particles, enhancing their ability to affect cloud formation. Dr. James Brean, an atmospheric scientist, emphasizes that this phenomenon could potentially accelerate ice melt while cooling the open ocean. The Arctic's rapid warming, occurring more than three times faster than the global average, makes it highly sensitive to climate change. Incorporating this mechanism into climate models could improve predictions of Arctic climate changes and their global implications. Current models do not account for this process, limiting their accuracy in forecasting the region's future climate.",
  "summary": "A newly discovered Arctic process can dramatically boost the number of particles that help form clouds. Near melting sea ice, sunlight reacts with chemicals released by the ocean, algae, and ice, causing cloud-seeding particles to multiply by as much as 50 times in a day. Because the active ice-edge region is growing as sea ice retreats, the effect could become increasingly important. Scientists…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}