That leaves a gap as much as 5 km thick in the lower stratosphere where climate - cooling
aerosols can persist, yet not show up, in satellite data.
What does seem to be known is that
aerosols fall out of the lower atmosphere (as high as they
can be launched with conventional bombs) in days, and
persist for less than 2 years when launched into the stratosphere by a major volcanic event like Pinatubo which was equivalent to several H bombs.