IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i8p3381-d1632021.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Asian Tropopause Aerosol Layer: Spatio-Temporal Characteristics, Trends, and Climate Effects

Author

Listed:
  • Hongchao Liu

    (School of Geographic Science and Tourism, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang 473061, China
    College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China)

  • Junjie Ma

    (School of Geographic Science and Tourism, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang 473061, China
    Cryosphere Research Station on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China)

Abstract

During the South Asian Summer Monsoon (SASM), intense large-scale uplift and strong deep convective activity over South Asia lead to the formation of a high aerosol concentration zone in the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere (UTLS), known as the Asian Troposphere Aerosol Layer (ATAL), which appears from June to August. ATAL not only influences the exchange processes of material and energy between the troposphere and stratosphere, but also affects the global climate by altering radiation, cloud formation, and precipitation processes. Therefore, examining the spatiotemporal distribution and climate impacts of ATAL is essential for understanding climate change and evaluating the feasibility of geoengineering. This study systematically reviews research progress on the three-dimensional spatiotemporal distribution, trends, sources, and climatic effects of ATAL. Findings reveal a prominent aerosol layer at the top of the Asian troposphere, and the SASM region potentially serving as a critical conduit for constituents of the boundary layer to reach the stratosphere. However, simulated ATAL components differ significantly across models, particularly in terms of vertical distribution patterns. The precise three-dimensional structure and long-term evolution of ATAL remain unclear, presenting challenges for assessing its climate impact. To advance the understanding of the roles of ATAL in climate change, three future research directions are proposed.

Suggested Citation

  • Hongchao Liu & Junjie Ma, 2025. "The Asian Tropopause Aerosol Layer: Spatio-Temporal Characteristics, Trends, and Climate Effects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:8:p:3381-:d:1632021
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/8/3381/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/8/3381/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Oyewale Mayowa Morakinyo & Matlou Ingrid Mokgobu & Murembiwa Stanley Mukhola & Raymond Paul Hunter, 2016. "Health Outcomes of Exposure to Biological and Chemical Components of Inhalable and Respirable Particulate Matter," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-22, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Denis Vinnikov & Zhanna Romanova & Aizhan Raushanova & Arailym Beisbekova & Ermanno Vitale & Gulnar Bimuratova & Venerando Rapisarda, 2023. "Exposure to Respirable Particulate Matter and Its Association with Respiratory Outcomes in Beauty Salon Personnel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-10, January.
    2. Barouch Giechaskiel, 2018. "Solid Particle Number Emission Factors of Euro VI Heavy-Duty Vehicles on the Road and in the Laboratory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-24, February.
    3. Mushtaq Ahmad & Jing Chen & Qing Yu & Muhammad Tariq Khan & Syed Weqas Ali & Asim Nawab & Worradorn Phairuang & Sirima Panyametheekul, 2023. "Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals (EPFRs) of PM 2.5 in Lahore, Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-16, January.
    4. Egide Kalisa & Stephen Archer & Edward Nagato & Elias Bizuru & Kevin Lee & Ning Tang & Stephen Pointing & Kazuichi Hayakawa & Donnabella Lacap-Bugler, 2019. "Chemical and Biological Components of Urban Aerosols in Africa: Current Status and Knowledge Gaps," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-21, March.
    5. Gabriela Martins Costa Gomes & Wilfried Karmaus & Vanessa E. Murphy & Peter G. Gibson & Elizabeth Percival & Philip M. Hansbro & Malcolm R. Starkey & Joerg Mattes & Adam M. Collison, 2021. "Environmental Air Pollutants Inhaled during Pregnancy Are Associated with Altered Cord Blood Immune Cell Profiles," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-16, July.
    6. Lu Zhou & Yingmin Tao & Xiaozhen Su & Xiyin Chen & Liang Li & Qingyan Fu & Juan Xie & Renjie Chen, 2022. "Short-Term Associations between Size-Fractioned Particles and Cardiopulmonary Function in COPD Patients: A Panel Study in Shanghai, China, during 2014–2021," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-12, September.
    7. Hyeon-Ju Oh & Yoohan Ma & Jongbok Kim, 2020. "Human Inhalation Exposure to Aerosol and Health Effect: Aerosol Monitoring and Modelling Regional Deposited Doses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-18, March.
    8. Oyewale Mayowa Morakinyo & Matlou Ingrid Mokgobu & Murembiwa Stanley Mukhola & Tshifhiwa Godobedzha, 2019. "Biological Composition of Respirable Particulate Matter in an Industrial Vicinity in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-14, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:8:p:3381-:d:1632021. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.