Understanding Aerosols in Earth’s Atmosphere
Aerosols are tiny airborne particles that travel through Earth’s skies and play a major role in our climate. They come from both natural sources, like volcanoes and sea spray, and human activities such as burning fossil fuels. Aerosols can reflect sunlight back into space, which helps cool the planet and offset some of the warming caused by greenhouse gases.
The Fading Cooling Effect of Aerosols
Scientists estimate that aerosols currently offset about one-third of human-caused climate warming. However, their cooling influence is starting to fade. As we reduce air pollution to protect human health, fewer aerosols enter the atmosphere. This means Earth’s temperature could rise even faster unless we also cut greenhouse gas emissions.
To learn more about how aerosols fly through Earth’s skies and their impact on climate, visit the in-depth article below.
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