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The effect and correction of aerosol forward scattering on retrieval of aerosol optical depth from Sun photometer measurements
Author(s) -
Zhao Fengsheng,
Tan Yongbo,
Li Zhanqing,
Gai Changsong
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2012gl052135
Subject(s) - sun photometer , photometer , aerosol , irradiance , forward scatter , environmental science , scattering , optical depth , remote sensing , optics , atmospheric optics , atmospheric sciences , physics , meteorology , geology
The Sun photometer is widely used to retrieve aerosol optical depth (AOD). In this study, the effect of atmospheric forward scattering on the measurement of direct solar irradiance is analyzed. In most cases, this effect can be safely neglected. However, in the case of heavy dust loading, errors in AOD derived from Sun photometer measurements can be significant which warrants a correction of the forward scattering to derive accurate values of AOD. An algorithm is presented for such a correction.