koniology

Coniology or koniology (from Greek , or , , "dust"; and , ) is the study of atmospheric dust and its effects. Samples of dust are often collected by a device called a coniometer. Coniology refers to the observation and contemplation of dust in an atmosphere, but the study of dust may also be applied to dust in space, therefore connecting it to a variety of atmospheric and extraterrestrial topics.

== Earth == thumb|A dust storm traveling from the Sahara Desert over the Atlantic Ocean Dust in Earth's atmosphere comes from both natural and anthropogenic causes. The process of which dust enters Earth's atmosphere naturally can be attributed to the Aeolian process where winds erode Earth's surface and consequently carry particles from the ground into the atmosphere via suspension, whereas anthropogenic dust may be due to human activities such as farming and creating air pollutants. The solid dust particulates and atmospheric moisture combined are suspended in the air which are both natural and anthropogenic are referred to as aerosols. The Sahara Desert is one of the biggest contributors in the creation of atmospheric dust as the winds carry and deposit dust and particulates across the planet.