Aerosols impact Australian weather

William Atkins
Thursday, 12 February 2009 19:46

Science - Climate

According to an Australian atomospheric scientist, aerosols, both naturally and artifically produced, may cause a much more damaging effect on Australian rainfall and future climate change than previously measured. And, most of it is caused by pollution from the Northern Hemisphere.


The February 12, 2008 article “Aerosols—their part in our rainfall” from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) states, “Aerosols may have a greater impact on patterns of Australian rainfall and future climate change than previously thought, according to leading atmospheric scientist, CSIRO's Dr Leon Rotstayn.”

The CSIRO is the national science agency of Australia. It is considered one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.

In the CSIRO article, Dr. Leon Rotstayn states, “We have identified that the extensive pollution haze emanating from Asia may be re-shaping rainfall patterns in northern Australia but we wonder what impact natural and human-generated aerosols are having across the rest of the country.”

Aerosols are defined as suspensions of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas. They can become suspended in the atmosphere either naturally or artifically.

Many of them are naturally in the atmosphere such as from dust storms, forest fires, ocean plankton, and volcanoes.

However, many others are made by humans from such air-polluting activities as industrial manufacturing, motor vehicle usage, and vegetation burning. They are found inside aerosol spray cans, too.

What is the effect of human-induced aerosols on the global climate of Earth? Please read page two.