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| | ScienceWeek |
 | | Atmospheric aerosols, which are fine particles suspended in the air, comprise a mixture of mainly sulfates, nitrates, carbonaceous (organic and fl carbon) particles, sea salt, and mineral dust. |
 | | Black (elemental) carbon (BC) is of special interest because it absorbs sunlight, heats the air, and contributes to global warming (5), unlike most aerosols, which reflect sunlight to space and have a global cooling effect. |
 | | BC emissions, a product of incomplete combustion from coal, diesel engines, biofuels, and outdoor biomass burning, are particularly large in China and India because of low-temperature household burning of biofuels and coal (9). |
| scienceweek.com /2003/sw030502.htm (9356 words) |
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