Atmospheric Aerosols

This textbook aims to be a one stop shop for those interested in aerosols and their impact on the climate system. It starts with some fundamentals on atmospheric aerosols, atmospheric radiation and cloud physics, continuing with techniques used for in-situ and remote sensing measurements of aerosols, data assimilation, and discusses aerosol-radiation interactions, aerosol-cloud interactions and the multiple impacts of aerosols on the climate system. Atmospheric aerosols are small (microscopic) particles in suspension in the atmosphere. Aerosols play multiple roles in the climate system: they interact with atmospheric radiation, they serve as cloud condensation nuclei, upon which cloud droplets can form, and ice nuclei, which facilitate the formation of ice crystals. They also play a role in some biogeochemical cycles and are a source of nutrients for ecosystems. Natural aerosols have responded and interacted with past climate changes. It is also thought that anthropogenic emissions of aerosols are responsible for a cooling effect that has masked part of the warming due to the anthropogenic greenhouse effect. This book is of interest to graduate and PhD students, but will also appeal to post-doctorate fellows who are new to the field or would like to broaden their knowledge. Exercises are included at the end of most chapters.§