title: Analysis of atmospheric aerosols.
abstract: Aerosols represent an important component of the Earth's atmosphere. Because aerosols are composed of solid and liquid particles of varying chemical complexity, size, and phase, large challenges exist in understanding how they impact climate, health, and the chemistry of the atmosphere. Only through the integration of field, laboratory, and modeling analysis can we begin to unravel the roles atmospheric aerosols play in these global processes. In this article, we provide a brief review of the current state of the science in the analysis of atmospheric aerosols and some important challenges that need to be overcome before they can become fully integrated. It is clear that only when these areas are effectively bridged can we fully understand the impact that atmospheric aerosols have on our environment and the Earth's system at the level of scientific certainty necessary to design and implement sound environmental policies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 92093-0314, USA. kprather@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Prather
authors.forename: Courtney D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Hatch
authors.forename: Vicki H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Grassian
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D000397:Air Pollution; D001272:Atmosphere; D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical; D004391:Dust; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005740:Gases; D009792:Oceans and Seas
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D005740:Gases