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aer-o-sol [air-uh-sawl, -sol]
-noun
1. Physical Chemistry. a system of colloidal particles dispersed in a gas; smoke or fog.
2. a liquid substance, as a disinfectant or deodorant, sealed in a metal container under pressure with an inert gas or other activating agent and released as a spray or foam through a push-button valve or nozzle
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South Africa is battling to keep its aerosol particles down, as can be seen by the country's aerosol loading having increased by a staggering 15% in the past 20 years.
An increased aerosol loading is seen as a major contributor to global warming and climate change and has a negative impact on mankind as it induces asthma and results in problems with respiratory function and lung tissues.
This, according to CSIR principal scientist Professor Sivakumar Venkataraman, is due to the atmospheric exchange process and its equilibrium. "This affects the clouds creating a possibility of acidic rain," he says.
In 2008, Venkataraman and his group embarked on a research project on atmospheric remote sensing to measure dust particles, aerosols, clouds and smoke plumes. "Aerosol is a high pollutant," he says.
To drive this research, the group uses LIDAR or Light Detection and Ranging capability - touted as one of the most powerful techniques for active remote sensing of the earth's atmosphere. (See photo right - mobile LIDAR in action)
Venkataraman says the technique has been tested in the country and the results have shown that the system works well.
Their background research revealed that the Johannesburg and Skukuza areas have more aerosols in summer and less in winter. He blames this on solar radiation.
Venkataraman adds that his group is collaborating with Eskom for addressing the effect of these particles in the atmosphere.
CSIR mobile LIDAR is the only available technology in South Africa that can be employed to provide height profile of aerosol measurement.
Meanwhile, this group is in the process of developing a plume dispersing model for South Africa - to try and investigate how far the plumes disperse in the atmosphere.
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