Title: Aerosols in the Atmosphere: From the Ozone Hole to Climate Change.
Abstract: Much of the uncertainty in predicting future climate change is associated with the properties of atmospheric aerosols and clouds. Though low in absolute concentration (ppb loadings for background aerosol), the impact on the earth’s radiative balance of sub-micron particles is roughly equivalent to that of greenhouse gases (> ppm concentrations). Mechanisms for the role for aerosols will be discussed in the context of work in the last 25 years that elucidated the kinetics of heterogeneous aerosol chemistry underlying acid rain production in the troposphere and ozone loss in the stratosphere. Experimental observations of aerosol chemistry will be related to uncertainties in global aerosol loadings and processes, comparing effects of inorganic and organic constituents. Brochure - Y-File Article