The book describes the morphological, physical and chemical properties of aerosols from various natural and anthropogenic sources to help the reader better understand the direct role of aerosol particles in scattering and absorbing short- and long-wave radiation. The book describes the morphological, physical and chemical properties of aerosols from various natural and anthropogenic sources to help the reader better understand the direct role of aerosol particles in scattering and absorbing short- and long-wave radiation. PRIMARY SOURCES AND SECONDARY FORMATION PROCESSES OF ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOLS Introduction A General Classification of Aerosol Sources Primary Aerosols of Natural Origin Secondary Aerosols of Natural Origin Primary Anthropogenic Aerosols Secondary Anthropogenic Aerosols Global Annual Mass Emission Fluxes of Natural and Anthropogenic Aerosols NUCLEATION OF ULTRAFINE PARTICLES Introduction Principles of New Atmospheric Particle Formation Chemical and Physical Factors Driving or Inhibiting New-Particle Formation Occurrence of New-Particle Formation in the Global Troposphere Importance of Nucleation for the Production of Aerosols and Ccn at the Global Scale ROLE OF COAGULATION, CONDENSATION, CLOUD FORMATION AND WET AND DRY REMOVAL PROCESSES IN THE ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOL LIFE Introduction Physical Growth Processes Formation of Cloud Particles Aerosol Sinks (Removal Processes) CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF AEROSOLS OF DIFFERENT ORIGINS Introduction Global Distributions and Climatologies of the Main Aerosol Chemical Constituents Size-Distributions of Aerosol Chemical Compounds Open Questions MEASURING AEROSOL IN SITU AND REMOTE SENSING Introduction Characterization of Aerosol Variables with in-Situ Techniques Detection of Aerosol Properties by Remote Sensing Observing Climate Change NUMBER, SURFACE AND VOLUME SIZE-DISTRIBUTIONS OF AEROSOL POLYDISPERSIONS OF DIFFERENT ORIGINS Introduction Concentration and Multimodal Characteristics of the Number, Surface and Volume Size-Distributions of Aerosol Polydispersions Vertical Profiles of Aerosols from Lidar Measurements Global Distributions of Aerosols from Satellite-Borne Images AEROSOL OPTICS Introduction Maxwell Theory Light Scattering and Absorption by Small Solid and Liquid Particles IMAGE AND RADIATION TRANSFER THROUGH AEROSOL LAYERS AEROSOL-INDUCED DIRECT FORCING EFFECTS BY NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC AEROSOL POLYDISPERSIONS Introduction Field Measurements of Aerosol Optical Thickness Aot Characterization of the Aerosol Radiative Properties of Different Origins Direct Aerosol-Induced Radiative Forcing for Different Particle Polydispersions THE AEROSOL INDIRECT EFFECTS ON CLIMATE AEROSOL EFFECTS ON AIR QUALITY THROUGH IN-SITU AND REMOTE SENSING TECHNIQUES Pollution Due to Natural Sources (Pollen, Desert Dust) Anthropogenic Pollution Aerosol Effects on Air Quality Air Quality from in-Situ and Satellite-Based Measurements EU and USA Limitations to the Aerosol Emissions and Rules for the Air Quality IMPACT OF PARTICULATE MATTER (PM) ON THE HUMAN HEALTH Introduction Epidemiological Evidences Toxicological Evidences Mechanism of Effects AEROSOL IMPACT ON CULTURAL HERITAGE: DETERIORATION PROCESSES AND STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTIVE CONSERVATION Introduction Damage Layers and Black Crusts on Building Materials (Stone-Mortars, Carbonate-Silicate) Bioaerosol Effects on Cultural Heritage Monitoring for Cultural Heritage Conservation Aesthetic Impact on Architectural Surfaces: Implications on Restoration and Maintenance Actions Future Scenarios Guidelines for the Preventive Conservation of Cultural Heritage in Urban Areas