This project centers on the possibility of salt-thriving halophiles to serve as ice-nucleating particles (INPs) in the atmosphere. This task presents a challenge due to the diversity of the bacteria and archaea domain and the limited data available in bioaerosols to become cloud ice formations. Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and pollen contain biologically derived materials that can act as INPs, initiating the freezing of water droplets in clouds even at relatively warm temperatures. Ideally, I would predict that different strains of haloarchaea will react differently based on their optimal salt concentrations: those from a less saline environment may be better microorganisms for INPs since they are able to interface with more water molecules in the moderately saline brine. This project consists of testing three different isolated strains of haloarchaea for optimal salinity and temperature profiles. These data would be coupled with measurements of their ability to induce freezing. Understanding the behavior of halophiles under specific environmental conditions is crucial to expanding our understanding of biological impacts on clouds, especially over saline lakes such as Great Salt Lake. What’s more, forming INPs may have positive impacts on the water crisis of the west.
