Atmospheric Chemistry Program (ACP) and Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program scientists team up to conduct month-long aerosol observation experiment

Summary

During the month of May, the Office of Science’s ARM Program and ACP scientists will conduct a campaign that is designed to test both theoretical understanding and climate model accuracy in simulating the indirect effect of aerosols on climate. The ARM Southern Great Plains (SGP) experiment will investigate the influence of aerosol composition and size on solar radiation and cloud formation. A second focus will measure cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) concentrations, and the relationship between CCN concentration and aerosol composition and size distribution. This so-called indirect aerosol effect on atmospheric radiation may be very important in predicting the magnitude of future climate change.