Global distribution of urban aerosols

Urban aerosols, tiny particles that range in size from a few nanometers to tens of micrometers, have major size-dependent impacts on human health, atmospheric processes, and climate. In a review of 737 studies, spanning nearly 20 years of observations, Purdue researchers find large variations in the urban aerosol particle size distributions among different geographical regions around the world. However, there are critical gaps in long-term observations of aerosols in many regions, with a severe lack of data from cities in Africa, Central, South, and South-east Asia, Latin America, and West Asia. The researchers make a strong case for development of a global infrastructure for routine and long-term monitoring of urban aerosols.

Wu, T. and B. Boor (2021). Urban aerosol size distributions: a global perspective. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 8883-8914.