Aerosols: Role in Radiative Transfer

Atmospheric aerosols (i.e., particles suspended in air) interact with shortwave radiation from the sun and longwave thermal radiation from the Earth. These interactions profoundly influence the energy budget and climate of the planet. In this article, we first present a theoretical framework for quantifying aerosol-radiation interactions. We then discuss the global quantification of aerosol properties using sensors on satellites that measure upwelling radiation, along with metrics that can be used to estimate global impacts of aerosol-radiation interactions. Finally, we conclude with a discussion on new frontiers in global measurement of aerosol properties relevant for better understanding the role of aerosols on climate.