In natural science, subaerial (literally "under the air") has been used since 1833,[1] notably in geology and botany, to describe features and events occurring or formed on or near the Earth's land surface.
For example, a subaerial eruption of a volcano is one that ejects material in the open but "under the air" (under the atmosphere).
[4] Epiphyte plants growing above ground that do not feed from their tree support (for example through their haustorium or feeding part having dug into the tree, such as Mistletoe)[5] have subaerial roots (for example some Ficus species).
As a type of asexual propagation, these subaerial stolons, also called runners, often develop roots and leaves from their nodes.
The surfaces are divers, and can either be natural (e.g. rocks, bark and leaves of trees, and hair of animals) or artificial (concrete, woodwork, and metal).