Parameterization of the Optical Properties of Sulfate Aerosols

Abstract

Parameterizations of the shortwave optical properties of ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4], ammonium bisulfate (NH4HSO4), and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) are provided as functions of relative humidity for high and low spectral resolution band models. The optical property parameterization is simple in form and in its dependence on relative humidity. The growth of the aerosol particles is based on equilibrium saturation theory, and the optical properties are computed from Mie theory. The optical properties necessary for the most commonly used radiative transfer methods are provided. Results show that when relative humidity effects are included in the backscatter fraction the radiative forcing is found to be a more sensitive function of near infrared wavelengths compared to visible wavelengths. For increasing relative humidity, sulfuric acid is found to have a larger effect on radiative forcing compared to the forcing by ammonium sulfate or ammonium bisulfate. Also, as relative humidity increases, forcing increases to higher values for smaller mode size distributions compared to forcing by larger mode distributions. These parameterizations will enable climate forcing studies to be performed with radiative transfer schemes that more accurately represent sulfate influences on the radiation balance.