A dense brownish haze of microscopic pollutant particles suspended in air (aerosols) in the Indian Ocean, discovered by an international team of researchers, could ``affect monsoon parameters in the long run,'' emeritus scientist AP Mitra at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) here, told PTI.

``The extent of the effect, which depends on other factors like how aerosols react with clouds, is being studied,'' Mitra, who is heading the Indian team participating in the Indian Ocean experiment (INDOEX) involving the US, Europe, India, Mauritius and the Maldives, said.

The finding was the result of a six-week field study in February-March this year as part of the project which is coordinated by centre for clouds, chemistry and climate (c4) at Scripps Institute of Oceanography(SIO) at the University of California.