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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Measurement of Aerosols Optical Thickness of the Atmosphere using the GLOBE Handheld Sun Photometer
Published on: May 29, 2019
Uncertainties in the evaluation of the shortwave radiative properties of an aerosol layer due to experimental and
Abstract:
Estimates of the radiative effects of tropospheric aerosol layers require analysis of complex and to some extent indirect measurements. Each step in the measurement and analysis procedure contributes uncertainty to the final estimated values. The magnitudes of the resulting uncertainties in reflectivity, transmissivity, and absorptivity for a specific realistic experiment are estimated as functions of solar altitude and mean optical properties in the aerosol layer, assuming uniformity in the layer and sphericity of the particles. These values are typically approximately 2-8% for a narrow wavelength interval in the visible.
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