POSSIBLE ROLES OF TRANSITION-METALS IN CLOUDWATER RELATIVE TO THE SOLAR SHORT-WAVE-RADIATION ABSORPTION ANOMALY

Measurements of the absorption of solar short-wave radiation by clouds exceed those predicted by theoretical calculations. In order to under stand the roles of minor and trace species in this absorption anomaly, cloudwater samples were collected from individual precipitating cloud s and analyzed for trace metals and anionic species. Two generalized a pproaches were used to assess the direct impact of the absorption of s olar short-wave radiation by transition metals and/or their anionic co mplexes. Additionally, it was suggested that iron and manganese may ac t as catalyts in the formation of sulfate aerosols which efficiently s catter solar radiation.