During her PhD studies, Corina Wieber researched the role of ice nucleating microbial cells in atmospheric processes. Some microbial cells produce ice nucleating particles or compounds that can help to form ice in clouds at relatively low supercooling temperatures, thus influencing the properties of clouds and the climate. Corina Wieber validated a new instrument that can study the activity of these particles. The instrument was used to investigate the ice nucleating particles present in the Arctic region as well as in laboratory studies using a model organism. Furthermore, she studied the metabolic activity of microbial cells under relevant atmospheric conditions. These new research findings contribute to a better understanding of the sources, characteristics, and activity of biological ice nucleating particles and their role in atmospheric processes and climate change.

The PhD study was completed at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, 27 September at 10:00
Place: Building 1110, room 223, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, C. F. Møllers Allé 8, 8000 Aarhus
Title of PhD thesis: Investigating the activity and atmospheric relevance of ice nucleating microbial cells and compounds: Instrument development, field, and laboratory studies
Contact information: Corina Wieber, e-mail: corina.wieber@bio.au.dk, tel.: +45 42321574

Members of the assessment committee:
Associate Professor Birgit Sattler, Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Austria

Professor Benjamin Murray, Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, University of Leeds, UK

Associate Professor Alejandro Ordonez Gloria (chair), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Denmark

Main supervisor:
Associate Professor Tina Šantl-Temkiv, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Denmark

Co-supervisor:
Professor Kai Finster, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Denmark

Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS,

Jens Baggesens Vej 53, building 5221, 8200 Aarhus N.