A method of removing aerosol extinction from HALOE measurements

Other

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

1

Aerosols, Atmospheric Models, Depth Measurement, Halogen Occultation Experiment, Line Of Sight, Optical Thickness, Particle Size Distribution, Radiative Transfer, Stratosphere, Volcanoes, Algorithms, Atmospheric Attenuation, Atmospheric Scattering, Methane, Radiometers, Sulfuric Acid, Water Vapor

Scientific paper

After the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in June, 1991, a large number of volcanic aerosols were formed in the lower and middle stratosphere. At these altitudes, the aerosol presence has adversely affected the gas retrievals in the radiometer channels of the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) because of the excessive extinction of radiation. A radiative transfer model has been developed along with a retrieval algorithm that can correct for these aerosol effects, using information derived from the HALOE gas correlation channels. Because the gas correlation modulation signal is virtually unaffected by the aerosols, accurate aerosol optical depth measurements can be retrieved. It is shown that by utilizing this optical depth information, an 'effective' size distribution may be obtained at each retrieval altitude. With knowledge of temperature and water vapor concentration profiles, and NO and CH4 channel aerosol optical depth data, it is possible to calculate the average mass fraction of sulfuric acid through an iterative scheme. This information, in conjunction with the optical constants, allows aerosol scattering and absorption to be calculated for any desired wavelength. Because of the nature of the correction sensitivity to the retrieved aerosol parameters, this correction can be made to within ten percent in the water vapor and ozone channels. In addition to providing a correction, the techniques presented provide a useful retrieval of line of sight aerosol optical depth and aerosol composition. It is only possible to determine a size distribution if HALOE information is combined with other measurements. Because larger particles play a more significant role when aerosol volume and surface area are desired, these quantities should be able to be obtained with more accuracy. However, further study is required in this area. The study of all these parameters should allow for the observation of spatial and temporal changes in aerosol characteristics from October, 1991, until HALOE is no longer operable.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

A method of removing aerosol extinction from HALOE measurements does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with A method of removing aerosol extinction from HALOE measurements, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A method of removing aerosol extinction from HALOE measurements will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1264141

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.