From 2010 to 2016, the ASR working groups were organized into the following three group and here is what they addressed:
- Aerosol Life Cycle – processes controlling the spatial and time-related distribution of atmospheric particles and their chemical, microphysical, and optical properties. The group looked to reduce the uncertainty in climate model radiative forcing due to aerosols. Research areas included: 1) new particle formation; 2) aerosol growth, aging, and removal; 3) direct radiative effects of aerosols; and 4) separating natural versus human aerosol influences on aerosol properties.
- Cloud Life Cycle – representation of large- and small-scale cloud properties in global climate models (e.g., cloud cover, precipitation, structure, lifetime, or reflectivity), and reduction of the associated uncertainties in climate simulations. Research areas included: 1) dynamics, 2) microphysics, and 3) cloud-radiation interaction. The research involved both direct observations and cloud property retrieval, as well as process representation improvement or development.
- Cloud-Aerosol-Precipitation Interactions – interactions among aerosols, clouds, and precipitation in climate models. Research areas included: 1) the effect of aerosols on cloud particle formation processes; 2) radiative effects of microphysical and macrophysical cloud properties influenced by aerosols; 3) cloud effects on aerosols by vertical transport, water chemistry, and removal; and 4) precipitation efficiency influenced by several related processes, including cloud depth, collision/coalescence, and entrainment.