The document discusses the challenge of characterizing particulate matter using remote sensing data due to the complex and multidimensional nature of aerosols. It presents results from using SeaWiFS satellite data combined with surface observations to characterize aerosols over the US from 2000-2003. Specific cases studied include quantifying smoke emissions from agricultural fires in Kansas in 2003 by analyzing the optical thickness and shape of smoke plumes. Summer climatologies of aerosol optical thickness over the US from 2000-2004 are also shown.