Permalink :  http://hdl.handle.net/2115/55032

On the effect of aerosols on clouds and precipitation, which is recognized as one of the most uncertain processes in the current climate system, observational examples, in particular, from satellites, are introduced. The effect on the cloud optical depth and cloud droplet size is generally consistent with the Twomey effect. The effect on the cloud fraction is shown to be variable depending on the aerosol absorptivity and the relative height to the cloud layer. As for the effect on the precipitation, both increase and decrease cases are reported and no clear conclusion has been given at this moment. Although these phenomena are investigated mainly through the correlation, other reasons than aerosols are also examined.

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