HONG KONG: It’s common knowledge that rain helps flowers bloom. But new research suggests the opposite may also be true: Pollen from flowers could help form clouds and bring about rain.
In a study published this week in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, atmospheric scientists from the University of Michigan and Texas A&M found that pollen from six different plants and trees effectively formed clouds in a laboratory setting.
For rain to fall, you first need clouds. These are created when gaseous water, or steam, condenses into tiny droplets. Small particles known as cloud condensation nuclei start this process, giving the water something to condense upon. But water won’t glom on to just any particle; it must be the right size—minuscule—and the right material, specifically something that can absorb moisture.
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