Atmospheric aerosols can impact upon the Earth’s climate via a myriad of processes (e.g. IPCC, 2007). Fundamentally, the effect of atmospheric aerosols is determined by their size and chemical composition (e.g. IPCC, 2001). Such properties are determined by many complex formation and subsequent transformation pathways in the atmosphere. In-situ studies provide a means of characterizing the many complex processes governing the transformation of aerosol in the Earth’s lower atmosphere. Furthermore, in-situ studies are required due to the large temporal and spatial variability of atmospheric aerosol (e.g. IPCC, 2001).

The objective of the 2006 Holme Moss experiment was to characterise aerosol emissions from the Greater Manchester area in North-West England to assess the optical properties and radiative impact of fresh pollution aerosol. Such processes include the role of organic and inorganic aerosol species in aerosol development during transport from a large source region and its activation to form cloud condensation nuclei. Furthermore, the experiment aimed to study some of the complex interactions between aerosols and clouds. Knowledge of such interactions is a significant deficiency in the current understanding of climate processes (e.g. IPCC, 2007).

The experimental setup for the experiment is described in section 2. Section 3 details some of the initial results of the experiment. Section 4 features the preliminary conclusions made regarding the initial results together with proposed future analysis approaches.