AN ATLAS OF AEROSOL ATTENUATION AND EXTINCTION PROFILES FOR THE TROPOSPHERE AND STRATOSPHERE

Abstract

Light scattering measurements were carried out to determine the aerosol properties of the atmosphere. First the expression for the aerosol attenuation coefficient is derived, based on the field geometry in conjunction with Rayleigh and aerosol scattering considerations. Then the results derived from the measurements are discussed. The paper concludes with an atlas of 105 profiles for altitudes to about 35 km (the data does not exclude the presence of aerosols with low number density between 35 to 70 km). These profiles consist of aerosol attenuation and extinction coefficients as a function of altitude. Since the coefficients are proportional to aerosol number density, the profiles yield information concerning aerosol stratification. A plot for the computed mean of the 105 vertical profiles is included.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1966
Accession Number
AD0649778

Entities

People

  • L. Elterman

Organizations

  • Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Altitude
  • Atmospheres
  • Atmospheric Attenuation
  • Attenuation
  • Computer Programming
  • Detectors
  • Elevation
  • Extinction
  • Geometry
  • Instrumentation
  • Layers
  • Measurement
  • Scattering
  • Stratosphere
  • Troposphere
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis

Technology Areas

  • Space