Glossary
Aerosols
Solid or liquid particles in the air.
Solid or liquid particles in the air, with a typical size of between 0.01 and 10 μm, which remain in the atmosphere for at least a few hours. Aerosols, which can be naturally occurring or anthropogenic, can influence the climate in a number of ways: directly, by scattering and absorbing radiation, and indirectly, as condensation nuclei for cloud formation or by changing the optical properties and lifespans of clouds.