Satellites and Satellite Remote Sensing
Because aerosols vary on many spatial and temporal scales and exhibit a diversity of environmental impacts, satellite remote
sensing makes an essential contribution to the study of airborne particles. Since the very first orbiting imagers began
observing Earth, the scope of satellite data products has provided inspiration, qualitative indications, and, increasingly,
quantitative constraints on the regional and global influences that aerosols exert. Major advances in this field have taken place
in the last decade, providing better constraints on atmospheric processes, short-term forecasting, and climate modeling.
Further advances can be expected from greater integration of satellite and suborbital data with models.