Final Report from EPA ERTDI-funded project 2003-FS-CD-LS-12
Summary: STRIVE Report 49 - Darius Ceburnis, S. Gerard Jennings, Brendan M. Kelly, T. Gerard Spain, Margaret Ryan and Dennis L. Savoie
Aerosols affect the global radiation budget, directly through scattering of solar radiation and indirectly through the role of the aerosol component of cloud condensation nuclei in the activation of clouds, which leads to increased reflectivity (albedo) of solar radiation back to space and thus to increased cooling. Yet, despite the now recognised growing importance of atmospheric aerosols, there are insufficient data available on their microphysical, chemical and radiative properties in regions such as Western Europe and the North Atlantic. Marine aerosols provide a significant contribution to the global radiative budget, due to the 70% ocean surface coverage and the low albedo of the ocean surface. Ireland is located at the strategic region between the North Atlantic Ocean and the European continent, experiencing a vastly different atmospheric composition, which requires sustained monitoring.
