Radiative transfer in the Earth’s atmosphere

Abstract

In Chapter 2, we analyzed the scattering and absorption properties of air molecules and aerosol particles. These properties create a specific signature of aerosol impact on radiation and this signature provides the basis for aerosol remote sensing. We have seen that this signature depends on the shape, size, and chemical nature of the particle, so that by measuring the result of an incident beam’s interaction with an aerosol particle, we can derive information about that particle. The problem becomes challenging because generally we have to deal with an ensemble of different particles, mixed within the air molecules, not just a single particle.