Impact of Atmospheric Aerosols, Clouds, and their Interactions on Radiation and Climate

Dear Colleagues,

Aerosols, having both natural and anthropogenic origins, have complex physiochemical properties and undergo transformations leading to complex interactions with atmospheric events, such as the radiative transfer of solar radiation, cloud formation, precipitation, etc., and are associated with extreme weather events such as wildfires, dust storms, volcanic eruptions, etc., which are also susceptible to climate change. Clouds themselves, being the largest contributor to solar energy attenuation, play an important role in radiative and climate forcing. Cloud amount, type, and microphysical characteristics are crucial for atmospheric radiation and climate studies. An improved and adequate understanding of interactions between aerosols, clouds, and radiation is crucial for energy studies, air quality monitoring, and climate change and extreme-weather-events mitigation.

In this Special Issue, we aim to provide a collection of studies focusing on aerosols, clouds, and radiation, and their interactions using varied methodologies such as modelling, measurement, satellite observation, and their synergies. Recent satellite missions such as EarthCare are expected to further enhance the understanding of aerosol–cloud interactions that can be coupled with radiation assessments of these phenomena with an in-depth understanding.

Therefore, all studies related to theoretical, experimental, observational, or modelling representing novel and deeper understandings of aerosol–cloud–radiation interactions, as well as quantitative characterization and radiative impacts of aerosol/cloud type, composition, lifetime, source, and transport are welcome for submission. The proposed topics (though not limited to these) are as follows:

• Impact of aerosol sources and transport on solar radiation;
• Aerosol physical and chemical properties impact on solar radiation;
• Aerosol (amount, type, and composition) trends and associated effect on solar energy;
• Cloud properties (type, composition, height, etc.) effect on solar radiation;
• Aerosols’ effect on cloud condensation nuclei, new particle formation, etc., and their combined impact on solar irradiance;
• Aerosol/cloud physical, chemical, and radiative property variations during extreme weather events (e.g., wildfires, dust storms, volcanic eruptions, cyclones, and cloudburst).

Dr. Akriti Masoom
Dr. Panagiotis Kosmopoulos
Guest Editors

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