In the light of recent field and laboratory measurements we developed a str
uctural and chemical model for organic atmospheric aerosols. The model orga
nic aerosol consists of an aqueous core surrounded by a hydrophobic organic
layer of biological origin. The role of organic aerosols is to concentrate
organic materials at the surface and transport these organic molecules in
the atmosphere. The nascent hydrophobic organic aerosol is not expected to
nucleate clouds efficiently. Processing by atmospheric radicals creates hyd
rophilic sites on the surface. The processed, aged organic aerosol is expec
ted to accommodate water and form cloud condensation nuclei. Processing of
organic atmospheric aerosols implicates them in atmospheric radiative trans
fer. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.