The stratosphere holds a rich variety of particulate matter ranging from meteoritic debris to sulfate aerosols to polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs). The volcanic eruptions inject significant quantities of SO_2 directly into the lower and midstratosphere, and strongly perturb the stratospheric sulfate layer. The properties of these particles are discussed and their global effects are surveyed. Heterogeneous reactions occurring on PSCs play the basic role in polar ozone depletion. The sulfate aerosol layer (Junge layer) can reflect solar radiation and increase the planetary albodo, thereby cooling the earth surface and altering the climate. Volcanic eruptions, which enhance the stratospheric sulfate aerosols, may cause significant global climate anomalies, The effects of anthropogenic alterations on the stratpspheric aerosols are described in this paper.
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