Abstract
Using an initial value radiative-convective atmospheric model we show that atmospheric aerosols can produce either heating or cooling, depending on the surface albedo. The model, a modification of that of Manabe, Strickler and Weatherald, consists of 9 points vertically and includes effects of CO 2, H 2O, O 3, low-lying aerosols and three layers of clouds. Both solar and terrestrial fluxes are calculated. Absolute humidity is assumed to be constant. For input parameters characteristic of 35°N latitude in April and surface short wave albedos, ω s , of 0.07 and 0.3, the model predicts cooling due to aerosols. However, when ω s is increased to 0.6, heating is predicted. A plot of surface temperature change, ΔT s , vs mean aerosol extinction coefficient in the visible per kilometer, σ vis, (for ω s = 0.3) has a minimum at σ vis ≈ 3. Similar plots for ω s = 0.07 and 0.6 show a leveling-off of ΔT s with increasing σ vis .
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