Optical extinction of smoke from the Kuwait oil fires

Journal Article · Sun Sep 20 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92JD01374· OSTI ID:81154

Weiss, R E ^[1]; Hobbs, P V ^[2]

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1. Radiance Research, Inc., Seattle, WA (United States)
2. Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)

Aircraft-based measurements of optical extinction, optical scattering, and particle mass concentrations were obtained in the smoke from the Kuwait oil fires during May and June 1991. These measurements were used to derive optical absorption, single-scattering albedo ({anti {omega}}), specific absorption and the amount of soot in the smoke. Measurements were made in smoke from individual oil wells, pool fires and in composite smoke plumes. The value of {anti {omega}} for smoke from the individual fires was either 0.35-0.4 (for the black smoke) or 0.85-0.95 (for the white smoke). For the aged composite plume from all of the fires, {anti {omega}} ranged from 0.52 to 0.6. The specific absorption of the composite smoke varied from about 2 m{sup 2} g{sup {minus}1} near the fires to about 1.5 m{sup 2} g{sup {minus}1} well downwind. 8 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 81154
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: D13 Vol. 97; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FIRES
KUWAIT
OIL WELLS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PARTICULATES
SCATTERING
SMOKES
SOOT