The Role of Aerosols in Climate Change

Abstract

Climate change, driven by human activities such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation, has resulted in widespread shifts in temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather events globally. This study examines the role of aerosols in climate change, focusing on their radiative forcing effects and interactions with clouds. Aerosols, tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere, can both cool and warm the Earth's surface depending on their composition and concentration. They influence climate by scattering and absorbing sunlight, affecting the planet's energy balance. Additionally, aerosols act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), altering cloud properties and precipitation patterns. The study synthesizes existing literature on aerosol-climate interactions, highlighting the variability of aerosol impacts across regions. It addresses research gaps by quantifying aerosol-induced radiative forcing, investigating cloud-aerosol interactions, and exploring regional variations in aerosol impacts. The findings underscore the complexity of aerosol effects on climate and the need for integrated approaches to climate mitigation and adaptation.