During a closely watched eruption, plumes of harmful sulfur dioxide gas morphed into “plumerangs” of sulfuric-acid-rich aerosols that descended on populated parts of Iceland.
aerosols & particles
Designing Mountaintop Cloud Experiments
Whiteface Mountain Cloud Chemistry Workshop; Wilmington, New York, 16–17 September 2016
Black Carbon Measurements in the Arctic Get an Upgrade
Long-term data of higher accuracy could help improve global climate models and reveal trends in black carbon’s influence on Arctic climate.
Better Estimates of Clouds' Climate Effects Are on the Horizon
A recent update to an algorithm for processing satellite data could improve understanding of the variable climate effects of clouds composed of different amounts of ice and liquid.
Meteorologists Track Wildfires Using Satellite Smoke Images
Enhancements to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's decision support system give forecasters new capabilities for tracking smoke from fires using satellite data.
Volcanic Ash Particles Hold Clues to Their History and Effects
Volcanic Ash as an Active Agent in the Earth System (VA3): Combining Models and Experiments; Hamburg, Germany, 12–13 September 2016
Satellite Data Reveal Effects of Aerosols in Earth's Atmosphere
Combining data from multiple sources could aid in predicting the tiny atmospheric particles' effects on global warming.
Clouds Don't Reflect as Much Sunlight as Previously Thought
Icy clouds may actually increase, not decrease, the amount of solar energy that reaches Earth.
Understanding Causes and Effects of Rapid Warming in the Arctic
A new German research consortium is investigating why near-surface air temperatures in the Arctic are rising more quickly than in the rest of the world.
Smoke Signals in the Amazon
Forest fires can occur naturally, but in the world's largest rain forest, fire can signal large-scale deforestation.
