Aerosol Optics

Light Absorption and Scattering by Particles in the Atmosphere

Alexander A Kokhanovsky

Atmospheric air contains not only gases but also various types of airborne particles (known as aerosols), which range from dust grains to microbes. These small particles influence atmospheric visibility, the thermodynamics and dynamics of the atmosphere, and are also of great importance in any consideration of climate change problems. Aerosols may also be responsible for the loss of harvest, human health problems and ecological disasters. Therefore, their study is very relevant across a range of disciplines.

Aerosol Optics contains a comprehensive review of available techniques for the remote sensing of aerosols. Founded on the solid basis of radiative transfer theory, the work couples that with Maxwell theory for the calculation of the scattering properties of small particles. In particular, techniques are described which determine the column concentration of aerosol particles and their optical sizing using spaceborne optical instrumentation.

Both ground-based and satellite remote sensing techniques are covered, with the majority of techniques using the so-called 'library method', which relies upon the precalculated top-of- atmosphere reflectances for various atmospheric aerosol types.

Aerosol Optics

emphasizes the scattering of light by non-spherical particles
provides an in-depth review of modern aerosol remote sensing techniques
comprehensively discusses radiative transfer theory as applied to atmospheric optics studies.

Table of Contents

Microphysical parameters and chemical composition of atmospheric aerosol
Optical properties of atmospheric aerosol
Multiple light scattering in aerosol media
Fourier optics of aerosol media
Optical remote sensing of atmospheric aerosol

Appendix
References
Index

Extent: 156 pages
Binding: Hardback
Publication Date: January 2008
ISBN: 978-3-540-23734-1

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