Earth  ID: 10389

Aerosols Absorb; Aerosols Reflect

Released on February 19, 2009
Some aerosol particles primarily reflect solar radiation and cool the atmosphere, and others can also absorb radiation and warm the surrounding air. When aerosols heat the atmosphere, they create an unstable environment where clouds can't thrive. The suppression of clouds leads to further warming of the atmosphere by solar radiation. Aerosols are a complex but critical piece of the climate puzzle, and researchers are still working to understand the role of these curious particles.
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Forest fires (biomass burning) emit black soot carbon aerosol clouds. Sun rays are absorbed by these dark clouds. Some sun rays are reflected and some still travel through the cloud to the ground.
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Non-absorbing aerosols scatter sunlight in various directions upwards (reflect the sunlight back into the sky).
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Artist depiction of aerosols from a forest fire absorbing radiation.
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Artist depiction of human induced aerosols from a city reflecting solar radiation.

For More Information

http://glory.gsfc.nasa.gov

Credits

Megan Willy (IRC/UMBC): Lead Animator
Maria Frostic (UMBC): Producer
Michael Mishchenko (NASA/GSFC GISS): Scientist
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

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Goddard TV Tape:
G2008-047 -- Glory Resource Reel

Keywords:
DLESE >> Atmospheric science
SVS >> Climate
SVS >> Clouds
SVS >> HDTV
DLESE >> Human geography
DLESE >> Natural hazards
SVS >> Pollution
SVS >> Reflected Solar Radiation
SVS >> Reflectivity
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere >> Aerosols >> Cloud Condensation Nuclei
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere >> Atmospheric Radiation >> Absorption
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere >> Atmospheric Radiation >> Reflectance
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Human Dimensions >> Natural Hazards >> Fires
SVS >> Climate Change
SVS >> Copenhagen
NASA Science >> Earth

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0