Aerosol Characteristics in the Marine Boundary Layer Over the Straits of Gibraltar - June 1986

Abstract

Measurements of aerosol characteristics in the marine boundary layer were taken during a two-week cruise through the Straits of Gibraltar. Observations of Aitken nuclei concentration, aerosol size spectra (0.01-100 micron diameter), aerosol composition, visibility (scattering coefficient), optical depth (sun photometry), temperature, humidity, winds and cloud cover were acquired during daylight hours. The data show that surface visibility fluctuations correlate well with particle concentration in the 0.56-1.78 micron size range. Surface relative humidity and particle composition appear to be the factors that control concentration in this size range. These data will be used as ground truth for techniques which retrieve aerosol data from satellites. This experiment was well suited for such an application, since there was little cloud cover to obscure satellite measurements, and comprehensive, consistent aerosol measurements were successfully taken. Keywords: Optical depth, Marine atmospheres, Particle size.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1988
Accession Number
ADA197945

Entities

People

  • B. J. Wattle
  • C. W. Rogers

Organizations

  • Calspan

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Masses
  • Boundary Layer
  • Chemistry
  • Cloud Cover
  • Clouds
  • Humidity
  • Measurement
  • Meteorology
  • Observation
  • Optical Properties
  • Particle Size
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Radiation
  • Research Facilities
  • Temperature Inversion
  • Uss America
  • Wind Direction

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Oceanography.

Technology Areas

  • Space