Heat emitted by the Earth. It has lower energy and thus a longer wavelength than the incoming sunlight. See shortwave radiation.

A heavy toxic gas that is easily condensed to a colorless liquid and is a major air pollutant. Certain large volcanic eruptions are thought to release enough aerosols in the form of sulfur dioxide to cool the climate.

Suspended particles in the atmosphere which range in size from about 10-3 µm to 20 µm. Volcanoes, car exhaust, industrial plants, forest fires, and even ocean evaporation fill the Earth's atmosphere with not only gaseous pollutants, but also very small particles. These particles, which include dust, ash, spores, bacteria, viruses, ammonia, o [..]

The albedo is a measure of the reflective quality of a surface. Albedo is the ratio of the amount of light striking a surface to the amount reflected from the surface and is typically given as a percent. A surface having an albedo of 50% would reflect half of the light reaching it, whereas an albedo of 0% would indicate that no sunlight is reflecte [..]

A precise rule (or set of rules) specifying how to solve some problem.

Vertical distance above sea-level or the earth's surface.

acronym for Atmospheric Science Data Center

Fine dust or water vapor causing the lack of transparency of the air.

The total mass of matter such as plant material, vegetation, or agricultural waste.

The burning of living and dead vegetation by natural or human causes.