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Letter

Nature Geoscience 2, 181–184 (1 March 2009) | doi:10.1038/ngeo437

Satellite-derived direct radiative effect of aerosols dependent on cloud cover

D. Chand , R. Wood , T. L. Anderson , S. K. Satheesh & R. J. Charlson

Aerosols from biomass burning can alter the radiative balance of the Earth by reflecting and absorbing solar radiation. Whether aerosols exert a net cooling or a net warming effect will depend on the aerosol type and the albedo of the underlying surface.