Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics www.atmos-chem-phys.net 1680-7316 1680-7324 9 12 2009 10.5194/acp-9-3935-2009 http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/3935/2009/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/3935/2009/acp-9-3935-2009.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/3935/2009/acp-9-3935-2009.pdf 3935 3945 2009-06-17 Particulate absorption of solar radiation: anthropogenic aerosols vs. dust C. Wang wangc@mit.edu G. R. Jeong N. Mahowald Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA Particulate solar absorption is a critical factor in determining the value and even sign of the direct radiative forcing of aerosols. The heating to the atmosphere and cooling to the Earth's surface caused by this absorption are hypothesized to have significant climate impacts. We find that anthropogenic aerosols play an important role around the globe in total particulate absorption of solar radiation. 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