Vertical stratification of the air microbiome in the lower troposphere

The troposphere constitutes the final frontier of global ecosystem research due to technical challenges arising from its size, low biomass, and gaseous state. Using a vertical testing array comprising a meteorological tower and a research aircraft, we conducted synchronized measurements of meteorolo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2022-02, Vol.119 (7)
Main Authors: Drautz-Moses, Daniela I, Luhung, Irvan, Gusareva, Elena S, Kee, Carmon, Gaultier, Nicolas E, Premkrishnan, Balakrishnan N V, Lee, Choou Fook, Leong, See Ting, Park, Changsook, Yap, Zhei Hwee, Heinle, Cassie E, Lau, Kenny J X, Purbojati, Rikky W, Lim, Serene B Y, Lim, Yee Hui, Kutmutia, Shruti Ketan, Aung, Ngu War, Oliveira, Elaine L, Ng, Soo Guek, Dacanay, Justine, Ang, Poh Nee, Spence, Sam, Phung, Wen Jia, Wong, Anthony, Kennedy, Ryan J, Kalsi, Namrata, Sasi, Santhi Puramadathil, Chandrasekaran, Lakshmi, Uchida, Akira, Junqueira, Ana Carolina M, Kim, Hie Lim, Hankers, Rudolf, Feuerle, Thomas, Corsmeier, Ulrich, Schuster, Stephan C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerosols
Air Microbiology
Air temperature
Airborne microorganisms
Airborne sensing
Altitude
Atmosphere
Atmospheric turbulence
Bacteria - classification
Bacteria - isolation & purification
Bioaerosols
Biological Sciences
Biomass
Community composition
Dispersal
Dispersion
Humans
Metagenomics
Meteorological parameters
Microbiomes
Microorganisms
Planetary surfaces
Regression analysis
Research aircraft
Spatial discrimination
Spatial resolution
Taxa
Time of use
Troposphere
Vertical distribution
Wind measurement
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Summary:The troposphere constitutes the final frontier of global ecosystem research due to technical challenges arising from its size, low biomass, and gaseous state. Using a vertical testing array comprising a meteorological tower and a research aircraft, we conducted synchronized measurements of meteorological parameters and airborne biomass ( = 480) in the vertical air column up to 3,500 m. The taxonomic analysis of metagenomic data revealed differing patterns of airborne microbial community composition with respect to time of day and height above ground. The temporal and spatial resolution of our study demonstrated that the diel cycle of airborne microorganisms is a ground-based phenomenon that is entirely absent at heights >1,000 m. In an integrated analysis combining meteorological and biological data, we demonstrate that atmospheric turbulence, identified by potential temperature and high-frequency three-component wind measurements, is the key driver of bioaerosol dynamics in the lower troposphere. Multivariate regression analysis shows that at least 50% of identified airborne microbial taxa ( = ∼10,000) are associated with either ground or height, allowing for an understanding of dispersal patterns of microbial taxa in the vertical air column. Due to the interconnectedness of atmospheric turbulence and temperature, the dynamics of microbial dispersal are likely to be impacted by rising global temperatures, thereby also affecting ecosystems on the planetary surface.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.2117293119