Measuring daytime changes in airborne particles shows true 24-hour reflected sunlight average
Friday, August 16, 2013 - 09:00
in Physics & Chemistry
Tiny airborne particles of pollution—known as aerosols—vary significantly throughout the day, according to a new study by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory scientists. Researchers showed that a single measurement of aerosol properties once a day is often insufficient to capture the effect of the airborne particles on the atmospheric energy budget. Particularly true near urban areas where pollution is strongest, the daytime particle changes may be large. PNNL scientists, in collaboration with NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory and the University of Colorado, showed that changes over a 24-hour period can affect the amount of sunlight reflected back to space, heating up the atmosphere.