Sun Photometry

Abstract

Multi-wavelength sun photometry has been a subject of interest in meteorology for two and a half centuries. The technique provides a quantitative index that relates to total suspended aerosol in the atmospheric air column above the observer; this aerosol changes continually in the atmosphere in response to many complicated physical processes. When used in conjunction with other aerosol and meteorological measurements, sun photometry has the capability of delineating characteristic features of different air masses and the aerosol sources that affect them.