Residence time

{
  "id": "MLC-T-MET-008524",
  "term": "Residence time",
  "field": "Meteorology and atmospheric science",
  "definition": "The average length of time that a substance, such as a pollutant or a water molecule, remains within a particular reservoir or compartment of the Earth system. It is calculated by dividing the total amount of the substance in the reservoir by its average rate of inflow or outflow. For atmospheric aerosols, residence times can range from hours to weeks, influencing their transport distance.",
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/meteorology/residence-time/"
}