Models for the aerosols of the lower atmosphere and the effects of humidity variations on their optical properties

TLDR

Aerosol models for the lower atmosphere have been developed and their properties’ dependence on relative humidity is examined. The study aims to describe aerosol optical properties at 100 % relative humidity using several fog models and to review their experimental basis. The models represent rural, urban, and maritime air masses, with extinction, scattering, absorption coefficients, angular scattering distributions, and other optical parameters computed for wavelengths 0.2–40 microns. Model optical properties are discussed and compared with experimental measurements.

Abstract

Abstract : Aerosol models have been developed for the lower atmosphere. These models are representative of conditions found in rural, urban, and maritime air masses. The changes in the aerosol properties with variations in the relative humidity are discussed. To describe the aerosol optical properties in the extreme of 100 percent relative humidity, several fog models are presented. For each model the coefficients for extinction, scattering, and absorption, the angular scattering distribution, and other optical parameters have been computed for wavelengths between 0.2 and 40 microns. These aerosol models are presented together with a review of their experimental basis. The optical properties of these models are discussed and some comparisons of the model with experimental measurements are presented.