Effects of sulfate aerosol on the central Pennsylvania surface shortwave radiation budget. Master's thesis

Technical Report · Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:6763657

Guimond, P W

Surface radiation measurements are taken simultaneously with measurements of meteorological variables including temperature, pressure, relative humidity, and visibility to evaluate the impact of sulfate haze on the surface radiation budget. A relationship is sought between flux losses due only to aerosol and relative humidity, visibility or both, with the goal of facilitating parameterization of sulfate hazes by climate modelers. At the same time, a rotating shadowband radiometer (RSR) is compared with a more costly sun photometer to determine the feasibility of substituting the former for the latter in future research. It is found that depletion of surface radiation due to aerosol is typically ten to twenty percent of initial insolation, and that the losses can be correlated with zenith angle, relative humidity and optical depth. In the case of flux loss as a function of optical depth, the two are related in a nearly linear fashion. It is also discovered that the RSR has a predictable error owing to a wider field of view than the sun photometer, and can be used as a replacement for the former by correcting for the error.

• Research Organization: Air Force Inst. of Tech., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6763657
• Report Number(s): AD-A-284335/7/XAB; AFIT/CI/CIA-94-123
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Master's thesis
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
SULFATES
AIR POLLUTION
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SOLS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540220 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)