This study investigates the impact of smoke on atmospheric warming over the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau (HTP) using MODIS fire data, ground-based and satellite aerosol observations, and model simulations. It finds that smoke aerosols, predominantly concentrated between 6 and 8 km in the mid-troposphere over southern HTP, likely alter regional atmospheric stability by modifying the vertical temperature profile, as indicated by a reduced lapse rate.

Iceland is among the most active dust source areas in the world. Dust properties are influenced by particle size, mineralogy, shape, and mixing state. This work characterizes freshly emitted individual aerosol particles of Icelandic dust using electron microscopy. Our study provides insights into critical particle-specific information and will contribute to better constraining climate models that consider mineralogical variations in their representation of the dust cycle.

CO₂ radiocarbon content (Δ¹⁴CO₂) is a unique tracer that helps to accurately quantify anthropogenic CO₂ emitted into the atmosphere. Δ¹⁴CO₂ measured in airborne flask samples is used to distinguish fossil versus biogenic CO₂ sources. Mid-Atlantic US CO₂ variability is found to be driven by the biosphere. Errors in modeled fossil fuel CO₂ are evaluated using Δ¹⁴CO₂ airborne data as an avenue to improving future regional models of atmospheric CO₂ transport.

An assessment of chromium occurrence in particulate matter – PM₁₀, PM_2.5, PM₁, and PM_0.25 – in the city of Radom during the calendar year was presented. The seasonality of both pseudo-total chromium content and its valence speciation was examined. The seasonality of changes in Cr_tot and Cr(VI) concentrations was observed. There was a maximum in the winter season, most likely due to the greater share of fuel combustion sources. Regardless of the season, the risk levels for Radom residents were within the acceptable risk range.

This study examines the physical link between subtropical highs and stratocumulus variability. Using reanalysis data, we test two proposed pathways – one at the surface and one in the free troposphere – but find that neither is a dominant mechanism for stratocumulus variability on seasonal and interannual timescales. These results challenge the assumed influence of subtropical highs on stratocumulus and highlight the need for further research into lower-tropospheric stability dynamics.