Stratospheric aerosols

The current state of information on stratospheric aerosols is reviewed. Aerosol properties such as size, size distribution, composition, refractive index, number density, extinction, optical depth, and single scattering albedo are considered and generalized as much as possible to be representative of the global aerosol in times of volcanic and nonvolcanic (background) periods. Data are presented that show the global distribution of stratospheric aerosols as measured by the stratospheric aerosol and gas experiment (SAGE) satellite system for background and volcanic (post-Mount St. Helens) conditions. In addition, lidar and dustsonde data are presented that show the changes in stratospheric aerosol over an 8-year period.