Conclusion: Results and suggestions for future research

Aerosols are a complex and important component of the atmosphere. These particles consist of various chemical compositions (homogeneous or inhomogeneous), shapes and sizes, and they affect human health, the environment, visibility, and atmospheric chemistry. A major concern is their influence on climate, directly by modifying the Earth’s radiation budget, and indirectly by modifying cloudiness, cloud properties, precipitation and atmospheric circulations. The aerosol influence does not depend only on their total amount, as it is the case for the gaseous components of the atmosphere, but on their chemical composition, shapes, and sizes.