References:

 

[1]  Bréon, François-Marie (2006), How Do Aerosols Affect Cloudiness and Climate?  Science, 313.

 

[2]  Fan, J., R. Zhang, G. Li, and W.-K. Tao (2007), Effects of aerosols and relative humidity on cumulus clouds, J. Geophys. Res., 112, D14204, doi:10.1029/2006JD008136.

 

[3]  Givati, Amir, and Rosenfeld, Daniel (2004), Quantifying Precipitation Suppression Due to Air Pollution, Journal of Applied Meteorology, 43.

 

[4]  Kaufman, Yoram J. and Koren, Ilan (2006), Smoke and Pollution Aerosol Effect on Cloud Cover, Science, 313.

 

[5]  Rosenfeld, Daniel (2000), Suppression of Rain and Snow by Urban and Industrial Air Pollution, Science, 287.

 

[6]  Rosenfeld, Daniel, Rudich, Yinon, and Lahav, Ronen (2001), Desert dust suppressing precipitation: A possible desertification feedback loop, PNAS, 98: 11.

 

Images:

 

Smoke rises from an oil refinery in Commerce City, Colorado. Along with automobiles, every industrial process exhibits its own pattern of air pollution. Petroleum refineries are responsible for extensive hydrocarbon and particulate pollution.