Tracking salt, dust, and smoke aerosols in the atmosphere

Tracking salt, dust, and smoke aerosols in the atmosphere Today’s Video of the Day comes from NASA Goddard and reveals how scientists track aerosols in the atmosphere traveling across the globe.

In this animation, researchers focused on salt, dust, and sea salt aerosols being transported across the planet, illustrating weather patterns from last year.

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Jose are detected as sea salt particles are picked up over the ocean and concentrated into the spiraling shape of the storm.  Likewise in the ocean, some types of microalgae produce a sulfurous gas called dimethylsulfide that can be converted into sulfates in the atmosphere. Sea salt and dust are two of the most abundant aerosols, as sandstorms whip small pieces of mineral dust from deserts into the atmosphere and wind-driven spray from ocean waves flings sea salt aloft.

Tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere are called aerosols. Windblown dust, sea salts, volcanic ash, smoke from wildfires, and pollution from factories are all examples of aerosols. The AIRS Dust Score science parameter is a parameter of the AIRS Level 1B Infrared quality assurance subset (AIRIBQAP_NRT). The AIRS Dust Score (Ocean, Day | Night) layer indicates the level of atmospheric aerosols in the Earth’s atmosphere over the ocean. 

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By Rory Arnold, Earth.com Staff Writer

Video Credit: NASA Goddard