Short-Time Mass Variation in Natural Atmospheric Dust.
Abstract
Aerosols are not perfectly mixed in the atmosphere, but reside in miniclouds, even in a relatively clear atmosphere. This report presents a mathematical treatment relating mass loading to optical backscatter, and some of the inherent problems in examining light scattering from natural dust in a theoretical manner are discussed. Lidar backscatter data were taken in a desert environment and related to mass loading variations over 30-second periods. Four of the 30-second segments of the data are presented. In these four segments, the estimated relative mass loading was observed to fluctuate up and down with the highest mass loading about eight times that of the lowest mass loading. These mass loading fluctuations were observed at one position 15 meters above the ground. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA079792
Entities
People
- Teddy L. Barber
Organizations
- Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory