Aerosols, cloud microphysics, and fractional cloudiness

Science. 1989 Sep 15;245(4923):1227-30. doi: 10.1126/science.245.4923.1227.

Abstract

Increases in aerosol concentrations over the oceans may increase the amount of low-level cloudiness through a reduction in drizzle-a process that regulates the liquid-water content and the energetics of shallow marine clouds. The resulting increase in the global albedo would be in addition to the increase due to enhancement in reflectivity associated with a decrease in droplet size and would contribute to a cooling of the earth's surface.