Atmospheric aerosols play an important role in climate change.
In fact, much research supports the theory that atmospheric aerosols could partly neutralize the heating effect of greenhouse gases. Aerosols are typically studied over water, due to the relatively constant reflectance of water and the ability to easily separate surface and atmospheric contributions on the satellite signal. The remote sensing of atmospheric aerosols over land, however, is still a challenging issue. The influence of surface reflectance over land is much more complex on a satellite signal, which makes it difficult to separate the surface and atmospheric contributions. Dr. Fang Li, senior research associate, and Professor Rudolf Husar, at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, are taking a novel approach to aerosol pollution research.