Injecting aerosols into the atmosphere on purpose could help cool Earth, but new research shows that it could also make the night sky brighter and negatively affect human health.
aerosols & particles
Posted inScience Updates
How Did Climate and Humans Respond to Past Volcanic Eruptions?
First workshop of the Volcanic Impacts on Climate and Society Working Group; Palisades, New York, 6–8 June 2016
Posted inNews
Air Pollutant Plays Lesser Role in Climate Change Than Expected
Satellite data indicate that pollution control efforts that curbed levels of sulfur dioxide gas did not cause a major decrease in carbon dioxide absorption by plants.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Volcanic Ash Contributes to Climate Cooling
A new study shows that atmospheric ash reflects solar radiation months after volcanic eruptions.
Posted inScience Updates
Joint Aerosol Research Between Cuba and Spain Proves Fruitful
Optics Atmospheric Teams' Workshop; Camagüey, Cuba, 27–29 January 2016
Posted inNews
Climate Warming May Have Helped Kill the Dinosaurs
New evidence indicates ancient warming spells that coincided with prodigious volcanism and a powerful meteorite impact, both seen as possible causes of mass extinctions about 66 million years ago.
Posted inNews
The 2015 Indonesian Fires: Less Carbon Release Than Was Thought
Preliminary results from field measurements of smoldering Kalimantan peatlands suggest that the fires emitted 8% less carbon dioxide and 55% less methane than were previously estimated from lab tests.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Measuring Atmospheric Aerosols Despite the Clouds
Researchers devise ways for remote sensors to integrate aerosol content above clouds into current methods of measurement.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Chemical Boosts Ozone Production over Southern China
The presence of nitryl chloride in polluted urban air can enhance the production of ozone by up to 41%, according to a new modeling study constrained by ground-based measurements.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Evaluating the Impact of Maryland's Healthy Air Act
Reducing emissions of short-lived gaseous sulfur pollutants from power plants had an immediate, local benefit, but controlling longer-lasting harmful particulate matter will require regional action.