aerosole

An aerosole is a term occasionally used as a variant spelling of aerosol, or as a proper noun in certain contexts. In standard scientific usage, an aerosol (plural aerosols) is a suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in a gas.

Particles typically range from tens of nanometers to tens of micrometers; most atmospheric aerosols are in the submicrometer to a few micrometers range. Aerosols originate from natural processes such as sea spray, dust, wildfires, and volcanic emissions, as well as anthropogenic sources including combustion, industrial processes, and agriculture.

Size-based classifications include nucleation mode (small particles formed by gas-to-particle conversion), accumulation mode (roughly 0.1–1 μm), and coarse mode (>2.5 μm).

Aerosols are transported by winds and can undergo coagulation, condensation, hygroscopic growth, and deposition by sedimentation, impaction, or diffusion. Their distribution affects radiation through scattering and absorption and can modify weather and cloud formation by acting as cloud condensation nuclei.

Measurement and study employ instruments such as optical particle counters, scanning mobility particle sizers, aerodynamic particle sizers, and aerosol mass spectrometers, as well as gravimetric sampling.

Applications include targeted delivery in inhalation therapies, spray coatings and consumer aerosols, and fundamental roles in climate and air-quality research. Health and environmental concerns focus on inhalation risks, toxic components, and the broader impact on atmospheric chemistry and climate.