In physical chemistry and atmospheric sciences an aerosol is a system of colloidal particles dispersed in a gas; examples include smoke and fog. (The term also has commercial use for both contents and canisters of sprays of deodorant, disinfectant or insecticide). The particles, that may be solid or liquid, have been defined (by Lodge, 1962) as ‘larger than single molecules yet small enough to remain dispersed for a significant length of time.’
In atmospheres, aerosols are important in cloud formation, nucleation of condensation droplets, atmospheric electricity and radiation balance. They thus play a major role in climate control. Sources of aerosols on planet Earth include sea salts (from storm waves), biological products, desert dust, volcanic ash and human pollution. Artificial aerosols (such as silver iodide, acting as freezing nuclei) can be used in artificial rain production in suitable cloud formations. Extraterrestrial aerosols from interplanetary space and meteorites are...
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Fairbridge, R.W. (1997). Aerosol . In: Encyclopedia of Planetary Science. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4520-4_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4520-4_5
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