1. Overview of the different types of aerosol

Schematically, there are two types of aerosol in the atmosphere:

• natural aerosol;

• pollution aerosol.

• Natural aerosol comes mainly from soil erosion (crustal or terrigenous aerosol) and wave splash (marine aerosol).

  • Crustal aerosol is dispersed in the atmosphere by wind action. It consists mainly of metal oxides, alumino-silicates and plant or humus debris.

  • Marine aerosol is produced by ocean spray. Water droplets laden with sea salts evaporate, forming solid crystals. It consists of chlorine and sodium, of course, but also nitrates and sulfates. The latter is called "Sea Sulfate".

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