Remote sensing, atmospheric aerosols

The hatched region in Fig. 14.1 shows the approximate values of k at visible wavelengths inferred by various remote-sensing techniques (Grams et al., 1974 Reagan et al., 1980 and references cited therein). If we compare these values of k with those for individual constituents of the atmospheric aerosol, it seems... 

The first passive remote sensing experiment to measure successfully the abundance of atmospheric aerosols from space was the Stratospheric Aerosol Measurement (SAM II) aboard Nimbus 7 (McCormick et al. 1979). This experiment was a single channel radiometer observing in solar occultation and was the forerunner of SAGE. Stratospheric aerosols have also been measured by their infrared absorptions (e.g. HALOE). 

The development of the relationships between scattered light and aerosols has stimulated the use of radiation transfer theory for remote sensing of particles in planetary atmospheres. Highly sophisticated experimental and theoretical techniques have emerged for the interpretation of observations of sunlight and artificial light sources in the earth s atmosphere. A description of their application depends on further development of the concepts of radiant energy transfer. 

TABLE III Remote Sensing Methods for Atmospheric Aerosol Characterization... 

In general, the methods are difficult to interpret quantitatively in terms of aerosol properties because of ambiguities in the size distribution-concentration-distance profiles and variations in chemical properties contributing to the index of refraction. Nevertheless, remote sensing continues to be important for the surveillance of aerosol behavior in planetary atmospheres. 

Bostick WD, McCulla WH, Pickrell PW. 1985. Sampling, characterization, and remote sensing of aerosols formed in the atmospheric hydrolysis of uranium hexafluoride. J Environ Sci Health, Part A A20 369-393. 

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