A Dynamic Portrait of Global Aerosols

Through numerical experiments that simulate our current knowledge of the dynamical and physical processes that govern weather and climate variability of Earth´s atmosphere, models create a dynamic portrait of our planet. The simulation visualized here captures how winds lift up aerosols from the Earth´s surface and transport them around the globe. Such simulations allow scientists to identify the source and pathway of these tiny particulates that influence weather and climate. Each frame covers a 30-minute interval, from September 1, 2006 to January 31, 2007.