Abstract

Recent models predict that the effect of atmospheric aerosol particles on global temperature depends in part on b_abs, or on n₂, where b_abs is the aerosol absorption coefficient, and n₂ is the imaginary part of the aerosol refractive index for radiation in visible wavelengths. Satisfactory techniques for measuring b_abs have yet to be developed. A method for measurement of b_abs is described and discussed. The apparatus uses a piece of opal glass to integrate light scattered by particles collected on Nuclepore filters. It is quite mobile, inexpensive, and can be calibrated. Analysis of the errors inherent in the measurement shows it is accurate to well within an order of magnitude for particles of radius larger than 0.1 μm.

© 1973 Optical Society of America

Integrating sandwich: a new method of measurement of the light absorption coefficient for atmospheric particles

Antony D. Clarke
Appl. Opt. 21(16) 3011-3020 (1982)

Effects of filter internal reflection coefficient on light absorption measurements made using the integrating plate method

Antony D. Clarke
Appl. Opt. 21(16) 3021-3031 (1982)

Atmospheric Aerosol Index of Refraction and Size-Altitude Distribution from Bistatic Laser Scattering and Solar Aureole Measurements

Gray Ward, K. M. Cushing, R. D. McPeters, and A. E. S. Green
Appl. Opt. 12(11) 2585-2592 (1973)

Comparison of three methods for measuring light absorption by collected aerosols

D. C. Ramsey-Bell and G. Couture
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A Method for Predicting Atmospheric Aerosol Scattering Coefficients in the Infrared

E. A. Barnhardt and J. L. Streete
Appl. Opt. 9(6) 1337-1344 (1970)