AAAR 35th Annual Conference October 17 - October 21, 2016 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Optical Characterization of Atmospheric Aerosols: From Fundamental Electromagnetism to Satellite Missions
MICHAEL I MISHCHENKO, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Abstract Number: 148 Working Group: Invited by Conference Chair
Abstract The strong influence of tropospheric and stratospheric aerosols on the environment, as well as on the global and regional climates, is well recognized. This explains the utmost scientific and societal importance of detailed and accurate knowledge of physical and chemical properties of these particles. More often than not it is impracticable to collect actual aerosol samples and subject them to a laboratory test. Therefore, in most cases one has to rely on theoretical analyses of in situ and/or remote-sensing measurements of light scattered by aerosol particles. Fortunately, certain scattering properties of small particles can exhibit a strong dependence on the particle microphysics and composition. This factor makes measurements and analysis of electromagnetic scattering an extremely useful and often the only practicable means of physical and chemical particle characterization. Addressing growing ecological and climate-change concerns requires the development and application of remote-sensing instrumentation and data analysis methodologies enabling accurate characterization of key components of the exceedingly complex atmospheric environment. The accumulated body of evidence shows that addressing this challenging task requires the following: (1) The development of measurement concepts that provide adequate sensitivity to specific macro- and microphysical parameters of atmospheric particulates and their composition. These concepts must be based on modern physics of light–matter interactions; the broadest possible spectral range extending from near-UV to near-IR wavelengths; the use of all four Stokes parameters of the detected radiation rather than just the first one (intensity); and active as well as passive observation strategies. (2) The development of advanced physically-based retrieval algorithms fully accounting for the extreme morphological complexity of the vast majority of aerosol and cloud particles. (3) Synergistic use of ground-based, aircraft, and satellite instrumentation and data.