How might aerosols affect climate change?

Aerosols tend to reflect sunlight back into space and therefore have a direct cooling affect on Earth's surface. Aerosols also affect the formation of clouds and may be responsible for cloud occurrence, thickness and rainfall amounts. (Hardin,Kahn 3) When some aerosols are released by volcanic explosions, there have been long periods of weather affected by the presences of aerosols in the stratosphere. Aerosols may offset the process of global warming by reflecting solar radiation and cooling the atmosphere. Perhaps they are affecting climate change with their presence by cooling down the atmosphere and forming more clouds.