Climate Change - Aerosols in the Stratosphere

  • Largely injected by volcanic eruptions

  • remember, the stratosphere is a stable layer, so lighter, smaller aerosols will have long residence times

  • aerosols reflect and absorb short wave radiation

  • As a result aerosols produce warming in the stratosphere and cooling in the troposphere

  • Recent significant eruptions:

    • El Chichon - April 1982

    • Mount Pinatubo - June, 1991