Open AccessResearch Spotlight: Simple description of atmospheric organic aerosol
Author(s) -
Tretkoff Ernie
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/eo091i021p00196-02
Subject(s) - aerosol , atmosphere (unit) , environmental science , atmospheric chemistry , atmospheric composition , organic molecules , atmospheric sciences , organic component , astrobiology , chemical composition , atmospheric models , earth science , environmental chemistry , chemistry , meteorology , molecule , geology , ozone , physics , organic chemistry
Atmospheric organic aerosols consist of a variety of organic molecules that are either directly emitted into the atmosphere or formed through chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Organic aerosols can affect climate by altering the amount of sunlight that is reflected away from Earth. Because the aerosol composition changes as chemical reactions take place in the atmosphere and air masses move and mix, it is difficult and time consuming for atmospheric chemistry models to include the details of the evolution of organic aerosol composition. A new study shows that it may not be necessary for models to include all the details.