Every day, countless microscopic particles float in our atmosphere — some come from deserts, others from oceans, fires, volcanoes, or human activities. Known as aerosols, these particles can travel thousands of kilometers, influencing the air quality and even the weather.

Understanding how they move and interact with the environment helps us interpret the links between atmospheric processes and human health — one of the many focuses within the field of Medical Geology.

This NASA’s GEOS model visualization shows the global transport of aerosols between August 1 and September 14, 2024. Each color represents a type of particle: sea salt (blue), dust (pink), smoke (orange), and sulfates (green).