Aerosols and global warming

Aerosols play an important role in the radiative balance of the atmosphere. While sulphate aerosols are recognized as the dominant contributor of tropospheric aerosols over and near industrialized regions, smoke aerosols containing soot or elemental carbon are regarded with increasing importance on a global basis. The fate of carbonaceous aerosols is at present poorly understood as a result of various atmospheric processes. This paper examines the effect of morphology on the physical and chemical properties of atmospheric aerosols, in the context of fractal theory. The use of a fractal dimension to describe aggregate morphology enables more accurate modelling of sedimentation and optical characteristics.