Light scattering from aerosol particles in the El Paso del Norte region / the effect of humidity
Abstract
Atmospheric aerosols play an important role in climate forcing, through scattering and absorption of the incoming solar radiation. The extinction of light by the presence of atmospheric aerosols was studied using two first-principle models, and corresponding computer codes. In the first model the extinction of light from irregularly shaped aerosol particles was analyzed. In the second model it was assumed that the irregularly shaped aerosol particles were covered by a film of water, and the hygroscopicity and the extinction of light by the aerosols was analyzed. These models were then applied to the Paso del Norte region and their light extinction results compared with a local extinctiometer. The inter-comparison of the models extinction results and the extinctiometer values were well correlated. It was observed that for high humidity days the model that used an aerosol particle covered with a water film correlated better with the experimental extinctiometer measurements. While these two models were validated in the Paso del Norte region, they are also applicable to any other region, under humid or dry atmospheric conditions.
Subject Area
Atmospheric sciences|Optics
Recommended Citation
Medina Calderon, Richard, "Light scattering from aerosol particles in the El Paso del Norte region / the effect of humidity" (2014). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI3682474.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI3682474