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Airborne observations of Arctic aerosol, IV: Optical properties of Arctic haze
Author(s) -
Clarke A. D.,
Charlson R. J.,
Radke L. F.
Publication year - 1984
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/gl011i005p00405
Subject(s) - aerosol , haze , atmospheric sciences , albedo (alchemy) , single scattering albedo , environmental science , latitude , arctic , snow , scattering , range (aeronautics) , ice crystals , absorption (acoustics) , geology , meteorology , materials science , physics , optics , geodesy , oceanography , art , performance art , composite material , art history
Measurements of the horizontal and vertical distribution of aerosol light absorption and light scattering coefficients (at 550nm) for the Arctic aerosol show a high degree of correlation. Apparently originating from source areas at lower latitudes and present at various degrees of dilution, the haze observed was found to have a single scattering albedo in the range of 0.77 to 0.93 and a mean of ca. 0.86. Apart from sample periods with high seasalt concentrations at low altitudes or within ice crystal layers, the single scattering albedo values presented here are well below values characteristic of typical crustal aerosol but are similar to continental urban and rural values. These low values are consistent with arguments for mid‐latitude combustion source for this aerosol. The magnitude and variability in the observed optical parameters suggest near surface heating rates in the range of 0.01 to 0.1 degrees centigrade per day.