Week 7 Aerosol Loading

Question 1

What are aerosols?

Answer 1

Tiny particles in the atmosphere
-fine dust
-volcano dust
-smoke
-sea salt
-human made aerosols

Question 2

What is the direct effect of aerosols on the climate?

Answer 2

Aerosols can absorb radiation and sunlight. Like black carbon, when they do this, they decrease temperature and provide shade.
short term

Question 3

What is the indirect effect of aerosols?

Answer 3

Clouds form via aerosols as they provide a condensation nuclei. Increase in aerosols, increase in clouds, effecting precipitation patterns.
impact reflection of radiation

Question 4

How do scientists measure aerosol optic depth?

Answer 4

Use satellites with radiometers to measure the amount of light that aerosols absorb in the atmosphere.

< 0.05 clear skies
1 hazy
>1 high concentration

Question 5

Describe the transport of aerosols

Answer 5

They remain suspended in the air for short periods, but they travel very far thousands of km in a week.

Question 6

Has the planetary boundary been crossed? Aerosol

Answer 6

Planetary boundary not yet quantified.

Control variable: Aerosol optic depth

aerosol complexity makes it hard to quantify

Question 7

Why should we try to define a planetary boundary?

Answer 7

1. Aerosols influence the climate system
2. have adverse effects on human health

Question 8

How does aerosols effect human health?

Answer 8

lung problems, bronchitus, asthma, cause premature baby deaths

Question 9

Effects of volcanic aerosols on climate

Answer 9

not extreme effect on atmosphere

caused major cooling short term