stratospheric aerosols

Stratospheric aerosols are tiny particles suspended in the Earth's stratosphere, the layer of atmosphere around 10 to 50 kilometers above the Earth's surface. They can originate naturally, like volcanic ash, or be human-made, such as particles from deliberate geoengineering efforts aimed at reflecting sunlight to reduce global warming. These aerosols influence climate by scattering sunlight back into space, which can lower Earth's surface temperature temporarily. They also affect atmospheric chemistry and can impact the ozone layer. Because they stay in the stratosphere for extended periods, their presence has significant implications for climate and atmospheric processes.