Optical remote sensing of atmospheric aerosol

Abstract

Aerosol optical and microphysical characteristics can be deduced from the analysis of solar light scattered or attenuated by the atmosphere using instruments placed on the ground, a ship, an aircraft or a satellite. In this section we will consider the ground-based passive techniques. Active remote sensing techniques based on the analysis not solar light (like it is the case for passive techniques) but on the study of lidar signals transmitted or reflected by aerosol media are considered in the next section.