The results of a new international study, which is expected to contribute significantly to our understanding of the climate system, were presented at a press conference at the Cyprus Institute.

According to the study, which was conducted with the decisive contribution of the Cyprus Institute and published in the leading scientific journal *Nature*, the oceans influence cloud formation to a much greater extent than scientists had previously believed.

Clouds play a crucial role in the climate system, as they reflect part of the sun’s radiation back into space and directly influence the planet’s temperature. The research sheds light on the mechanisms through which microscopic atmospheric particles form, acting as “nuclei” for cloud formation.

The discovery, made as part of the international CLOUD experiment at CERN, makes a significant contribution to answering one of the most persistent and critical open questions in climate science: why climate model simulations systematically deviate from atmospheric particle observations over large areas of the oceans.

The Role of Ocean Plankton

At the heart of the discovery lies phytoplankton, the microscopic organisms that live on the surface of the oceans. Phytoplankton release gases, which, through chemical reactions in the atmosphere, are converted into substances that contribute to the formation of new particles.

For decades, scientists believed that sulfuric acid was the key factor in this process. However, the new study shows that methanesulfonic acid (MSA), a substance that also originates from natural marine emissions, plays an equally important role in the formation of new particles. In fact, when MSA acts in synergy with sulfuric acid, the formation of new particles is significantly enhanced, particularly in cold regions such as the polar regions.

The Contribution of the Cyprus Institute

In welcoming the guests, the President of the Cyprus Institute, Dr. Stavros Malas, spoke of a significant discovery that highlights the Cyprus Institute as a center of excellence, as well as a leading institution contributing to climate change research. This discovery, Dr. Malas noted, confirms that investment in research and centers of excellence pays off and elevates the scientific work being done in our country.

Dr. Theodoros Christoudias, one of the study’s authors, noted that the study focuses on emissions from organisms found in the oceans, such as the well-known phytoplankton, and how these, through chemical reactions in the atmosphere, are converted into substances that contribute to the formation of new particles.

This discovery, Dr. Christoudias noted, helps us better understand climate systems and prepare more effectively for the impacts of climate change. Cyprus, as he notably pointed out, is located in a region that is warming at twice the global average rate and is already experiencing the severe consequences of climate change. For this reason, she said, it is essential that we adapt to the new conditions while also taking measures to mitigate its effects.

Dr. Rima Baalbaki, a researcher at the CARE-C Center of Excellence at the Cyprus Institute and the study’s lead author, emphasizes that the results indicate that the oceans influence cloud formation far more than we had previously estimated. Understanding this mechanism, Dr. Baalbaki notes, allows us to see more clearly how the Earth’s climate system works, improve the accuracy of climate forecasts, and assess the role of human activities in climate change with greater reliability.

Cyprus at the Center of Global Climate Research

The new findings substantially strengthen the scientific basis on which climate models rely and are considered crucial for improving their reliability in the future. At the same time, they open up new avenues for understanding how the oceans influence the climate system.

The publication in *Nature* and the Cyprus Institute’s active participation in the CERN CLOUD experiment highlight the essential role of the Cypriot scientific community in international climate research.

At the same time, the study’s findings are particularly significant for regions such as the Eastern Mediterranean, one of the areas most vulnerable to the effects of climate change worldwide, since a more precise understanding of climate mechanisms is essential for designing more effective policies to adapt to and mitigate the climate crisis.