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