Solid or liquid particles in the size range of 0.001 to 10 microns in radius suspended in the air. Aerosol particles play an important role in the climate system because of their direct interaction (absorption and scattering) with solar and terrestrial radiation, as well as through their influence on cloud formation. (Source: Government of Canada Climate Change Site)
microscopic particles originating from both natural sources (e.g., volcanoes) and human activities (e.g., coal burning).
Tiny solid particles or liquid droplets that remain suspended in the atmosphere for a long time.
finely divided solid or liquid particles dispersed in the atmosphere.
These are the non-gaseous microscopic particles and droplets floating in the atmosphere that have a climate forcing effect just as do the greenhouse gases. They come from natural and artificial sources, with the most abundant ones being particles of mineral dust, sulfuric acid, ammonium sulfate, biological material-like pollens, and carbon or soot. Aerosols provide forcing in a couple of ways, the first being providing the nuclei around witch larger drops of water can condense and release latent heat into the atmosphere. They can also absorb or reflect energy radiated from the Sun or Earth. It is not known at present whether their net effect is to heat or cool the Earth.
Liquid droplets or solid particles dispersed in the air that are of fine enough particle size (0.01-100um) to remain so dispersed for a period of time
tiny particles in the atmosphere, so small and light that the slightest movements of air keep them aloft
Particles in the atmosphere. They cool the earth by reflecting sunlight back into space, but disappear far faster than greenhouse gases.
Liquid or solid particles suspended in the atmosphere. Their sizes generally have linear dimensions in the range of 100-1000 nanometers (nm). In the earth's atmosphere, common aerosols are dust blown up from deserts, volcanic aerosols, sea salt over and near the oceans, and pollution.
Dispersions in gas of particles of solid or liquid matter that are larger than single molecules yet small enough to remain dispersed for a significant length of time.
Suspended particles in the atmosphere which range in size from about 10-3 µm to 20 µm. Volcanoes, car exhaust, industrial plants, forest fires, and even ocean evaporation fill the Earth's atmosphere with not only gaseous pollutants, but also very small particles. These particles, which include dust, ash, spores, bacteria, viruses, ammonia, organic material, sea salt crystals, and sulfur and nitrogen compounds, clump together with gases and water in the atmosphere to form aerosols.
Fine particles of liquid, which together act more like a gas.
Scientific term used to describe particles suspended in a fluid such as air.
small droplets or particles, larger than a molecule in size, that remain suspended in the atmosphere (see definition). They have a variety of sources – some natural, like dust storms and volcanic activity, and some caused by human activities, like fossil fuel and biomass burning. Note that there is no connection between these particulate aerosols and pressurized products also called aerosols.
Solid or liquid particles dispersed in the air, including dust, soot, sea salt crystals, spores, bacteria, viruses and other microscopic particles. Aerosols are often regarded as air pollution, but many aerosols have a natural origin.
The suspension of solid or liquid particles in the atmosphere.
Substance dispersed into the air such that the droplets or particles remain in suspension for a significant period of time
Tiny suspended solid particles (dust, smoke, etc.) or liquid droplets that enter the atmosphere from either natural or human (anthropgenic) sources, such as the burning of fossil fuels. Aerosols can affect the way the skies appear... for example aerosols from a volcanic eruption or a forest fire can turn the sunrises and sunsets extraordinarily red and orange.
tiny, fine particles suspended in the air
Solid particles dispersed in the atmosphere having resonant size particles with a high index of refraction. The particles both scatter and absorb visual and laser directed energy so as to cut down on weapon systems directed by these techniques.
Micron-size liquid droplets or solid particles dispersed in air by pressurized gases. When liquid droplets reach micron dimensions, their behavior becomes similar to solid particles of the same size. A suspension or dispersion of small particles (solids or liquids) in a gaseous medium.
Tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere.
Liquid droplets or solid particles dispersed in air or gases, of fine enough particle size (0.1 to 100 microns) to remain so dispersed for a period of time.
A suspension of solid or liquid particles in a gas, for example sulfate molecules (SO4-) found in the earth atmosphere.
A fine mist or spray that contains minute particles and may contain microorganisms.
A suspension of small liquid or solid particles in gas. See also Particulate matter.
Solid or liquid particles suspended within the atmosphere (see "sulfate aerosols" and "black carbon aerosols").
Extremely small particles of liquid or dust in the atmosphere. Burning coal releases sulfur dioxide which in the atmosphere is transformed into sulfate aerosols. One geo-engineering strategy would put more aerosols into the atmosphere to reflect sunlight back to space.