Particle data from Canadian and U.S. ground-based monitoring networks from 1982 forward include the following:
- Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD);
- Aerosol Size Distribution;
- Aerosol Number;
- Aerosol Chemical Composition;
- Particulate Matter Mass;
- Particulate Matter <= 2.5 microns (PM2.5);
- Particulate Matter <= 10 microns (PM10);
- Particulate Metals.
For further information about Atmospheric Particles Data, see the Monitoring of Atmospheric Particles_Metadata.pdf file. These measurements help scientists understand the linkages between aerosol chemical composition, aerosol radiative properties, cloud formation and precipitation.