Aerosol Observing Systems for ARM

The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement user facility is a multi-laboratory collaboration that is a key contributor to national and international climate research efforts. The ARM Aerosol

aerosols

Small particles or droplets, such as wildfire smoke, volcanic gases, or salty sea spray, that float in the air. They are emitted by both natural events and human activities.

Source: NASA Global Climate Change Source

Observing Systems studies temporal and spatial variability of atmospheric aerosols with particular interest in tropical regions, carbonaceous aerosols

carbonaceous aerosol (CAA)

Carbonaceous aerosols (particles) in the atmosphere scatte and absorb solar radiation. They comprise of both light-absorbing (elemental carbon and brown carbon) and scattering (organic carbon) species. The absorbing fraction is called black carbon and is primarily produced from incomplete combustion.

Source: Osti.gov Lawarence Livermore National Laboratory, Abstract Source

(organic and black carbon

black carbon

The sooty black material emitted from gas and diesel engines, coal-fired power plants, and other sources that burn fossil fuel. It comprises a significant portion of particulate matter or PM, which is an air pollutant.

Source: EPA Source

or soot), and air quality.