Atmospheric Aerosols
Microscopic solid particles or liquid droplets suspended in the atmosphere originating from natural or human sources.
Governing formula
Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) τ, Direct/Indirect Radiative Effect
SI unit
μg/m³ (Concentration)
In depth
Aerosols (sulfates, dust, soot, sea salt) affect climate directly by scattering and absorbing solar radiation, and indirectly by acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) to modify cloud albedo and lifetime.
Examples in the real world
Volcanic eruptions injecting sulfate aerosols into the stratosphere, scattering sunlight and temporarily cooling global climate.