Light-absorbing aerosols (LAA), including black and brown carbon and mineral dust, are vital climate agents. Their impacts manifest across the Earth’s atmosphere, land, and hydrologic systems. Significant uncertainties persist regarding their abundance, physicochemical properties, and mixing states. Furthermore, LAA effective radiative forcing in Earth System Models varies by more than a factor of two. Improved observations and representations of LAA distributions, microphysical properties, and atmospheric lifecycle transformations are essential. These advancements will resolve conflicting observations and accurately treat aerosols in climate models. This session invites submissions on: (a) characterization of LAA, its transformations, and sinks; (b) links between LAA chemical, microphysical, and optical properties; (c) numerical simulations of LAA at any scale; (d) assessment of LAA radiative forcing and climate impacts; (e) AI and data-driven approaches for understanding LAA-relevant processes.