Designing new ways to probe aerosols for more accurate climate models
Tuesday, July 1, 2014 - 06:00
in Earth & Climate
Dust storms, volcanic eruptions and hurricanes are tangible events that send particles of sand, soot and salt into the atmosphere. These particles can alter the climate cycles that heat and cool the Earth. Less obvious sources of aerosols affect these cycles, too; the sea salt sprayed off breaking waves or volatile organic compounds emitted from trees. But nearly untraceable chemical transformations also lead to the birth of new atmospheric particles. Accounting for these newborn particles and their role in cloud formation is key to improving climate models. Scientists recently gathered at EMSL to discuss ways to more accurately chronicle the clandestine lives of these aerosols in the lab and the field.