Systematic bibliometric review of aerosol and atmospheric air pollutants effects on precipitation

Aerosols and air pollutant play an important role in precipitation processes. This study demonstrates the publication trends and collaboration networks among journals, authors, universities, and countries in this area using a systematic bibliometric approach. The use of this study method is an innovation in current research. Results show that the trends of article publication and their citation accelerate from 2006 to 2023. The journals Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics and Geophysical Research-Atmospheres have the highest number of articles and citations. Universities and other institutions in Israel, the United States, and China lead this scientific field. The most influential articles and top authors in this field are also identified, with Daniel Rosenfeld from Israel holding the first place. A thematic map of keywords shows that previous research has mostly focused on the relationship between aerosols and cloud microphysics; monsoon precipitation; their modeling; and the effects of aerosols and air pollutants on seasonal, orographic, and warm precipitation. By contrast, the effects of greenhouse gases in combination with other air pollutants on precipitation processes have received little attention from researchers. Given these points, identifying the most important journals, articles, and authors as references and determining research directions, trends, and gaps are valuable contributions of the present paper for researchers planning to pursue this thematic area in the future.