A recent study published in One Earth has uncovered compelling evidence suggesting that the climate effects of new particles in urban areas have been significantly underestimated.
A recent study published in One Earth has uncovered compelling evidence suggesting that the climate effects of new particles in urban areas have been significantly underestimated.
Particles play a crucial role in climate regulation, influencing processes such as cloud formation and radiation balance. Traditionally, research in urban environments has focused largely on primary particles – those directly emitted from sources like vehicle exhaust and industrial activities – while new particles, which are formed through atmospheric reactions, have often been overlooked in discussions about their climatic impacts.
A recent study published in One Earth has uncovered compelling evidence suggesting that the climate effects of new particles in urban areas have been significantly underestimated.
"To accurately assess the climate effects of particles, we need comprehensive long-term vertical observations", says Academician Markku Kulmala from the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research INAR at the University of Helsinki. This call for enhanced observational strategies underscores the complexity of atmospheric processes and the importance of capturing data from different heights to better understand urban aerosol behavior.
Read more at University of Helsinki
Image: Researchers performed the state-of-the-art instrumentation at the top of the Beijing Meteorological Tower to investigate the influence of new particles on cloud formation. (Credit: Hao Li, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
