(Invited Speaker) The Direct Radiative Forcing of Aerosols: Progress and strategies

Aerosols, both natural and anthropogenic, are major contributors to the radiation balance of the earth-atmosphere system. They reflect and absorb incoming solar radiation, change cloud properties, modify atmospheric absorption rates, and alter precipitation processes. Although satellite remote sensing and numerical model simulations play a key role in studying aerosols, considerable uncertainties exist in quantifying aerosol effects on climate. In response to the need to reduce the uncertainties in aerosol climate forcing, the research community has begun to move towards an observational paradigm for studying aerosol effects. In this presentation, I will review the progress made in assessing aerosol radiative forcing using multiple satellite sensors and provide some strategies for some of the remaining outstanding problems.