Raindrops might be pumping bacteria into the sky, according to a study published today in the journal Nature Communications. "On certain surfaces, when droplets hit at kind of the right speed the droplets would trap air," said Buie. Not from carbonated liquids, but from plain liquid water on porous surfaces." Meliodosis occurs in parts of Australia and Vietnam and is caused by bacteria that disperse into the air. This new study builds on previous research that looked at how droplets interact with porous surfaces.
Raindrops spew bacteria into the air as they burst
The synthetic particles were already fluorescent, while the bacteria particles were treated with an agent to make them glow. In other words, raindrops hitting sandy clay soils send more bacteria into the air than droplets hitting other kinds of dirt. Raindrops might be pumping bacteria into the sky, according to a study published today in the journal Nature Communications. Buie's study suggests a mechanism—bioaerosolization, or the suspension of particles that contain living organisms like bacteria. Meliodosis occurs in parts of Australia and Vietnam and is caused by bacteria that disperse into the air.
Raindrops make soil bacteria take off and fly through air
Images from the experiment show bacteria inside fine droplets, or aerosols, thrown up by the simulated raindrops. Knowing that bacteria can take to the air in this way could help researchers develop more accurate climate models, says Buie. High-speed camera footage has revealed how raindrops can disperse microbes from the soil into the air in tiny water droplets, possibly allowing them to travel long distances. Buie says more research will be needed to show whether raindrops falling on soil contribute to the spread of diseases. The soil contained three species of bacteria stained with a fluorescent green dye that allowed them to be seen.
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