The capture of airborne particulates by rain

Rain cleans pollution out of the atmosphere, as droplets collide with airborne particles during free fall. Such particle–droplet collisions have been presumed to be capture events, but details such lack thorough investigation. We show that rain and interact through multiple collision behaviours, including captures on droplet surface, cavity-forming entries ricochets. drop diameter fall velocity, in addition particle density, size, wettability impact location, determine which or escape behaviour occurs. Our findings reveal does not all pollutants equally even upon collision, certain prove more difficult remove from air than others. Consequently, we must account for both characteristics understand mechanisms fluxes environment.