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Updated: Nov 20, 2025

Extraction and Characterization of Surfactants from Atmospheric Aerosols
Published on: April 21, 2017
Dry Deposition of Atmospheric Aerosols: Approaches, Observations, and Mechanisms
Delphine K Farmer1, Erin K Boedicker1, Holly M DeBolt1
1Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA;
Abstract:
Aerosols are liquid or solid particles suspended in the atmosphere, typically with diameters on the order of nanometers to microns. These particles impact air quality and the radiative balance of the planet. Dry deposition is a key process for the removal of aerosols from the atmosphere and plays an important role in controlling the lifetime of atmospheric aerosols. Dry deposition is driven by turbulence and shows a strong dependence on particle size. This review summarizes the mechanisms behind aerosol dry deposition, including measurement approaches, field observations, and modeling studies. We identify several gaps in the literature, including deposition over the cryosphere (i.e., snow and ice surfaces) and the ocean; in addition, we highlight new techniques to measure black carbon fluxes. While recent advances in aerosol instrumentation have enhanced our understanding of aerosol sources and chemistry, dry deposition and other loss processes remain poorly investigated.
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