Abstract

Spectral measurements of the attenuation of solar radiation and measurements of the sky radiance are used to derive the optical and physical characteristics of desert aerosol, averaged on the vertical column. The size distribution, the total mass loading per unit area, the scattering phase function and the effect of particle's nonsphericity on the scattering phase function are derived. The measurements, taken during 6 months in the Negev desert in Israel are analyzed and compared with analysis of aerosol sampling for the size distribution, shape and elemental composition. These measurements and analysis, shows that a combination of measurements form the ground of the attenuation of solar radiation, of the sky radiance and collection and analysis of aerosol particles on neopore filters can be a basis for aerosol climatology and for ground truth to validate space remote sensing of the aerosol characteristics and transport.

© 1991 Optical Society of America