Aerosol features retrieved from solar aureole data: a simulation study concerning a turbid atmosphere

Area of Science:

• Atmospheric optics
• Radiative transfer theory

Background:

• Solar aureole measurements provide crucial data for atmospheric studies.
• Accurate retrieval of aerosol characteristics is essential for climate modeling and air quality assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a new radiative transfer code for analyzing solar aureole data.
• To determine optimal parameters for accurate aerosol retrieval from aureole measurements.
• To assess the sensitivity of retrieval methods to input parameter uncertainties.

Main Methods:

• Simulated solar aureole data for turbid atmospheres were generated.
• A radiative transfer code employing the delta-M approximation with corrections for scattering orders was utilized.
• Inverse problems were solved to retrieve aerosol features, including ground albedo and complex refractive index.

Main Results:

• The software demonstrated high accuracy and efficiency in solving direct and inverse aureole problems.
• Extended scattering angle measurements up to 40° are recommended.
• Optimal aerosol radius interval is 0.05–15 µm; ground albedo requires 15% accuracy.
• Refractive index accuracy requirements vary: real part within 3.5%, imaginary part 10–50%.

Conclusions:

• The validated code reliably handles experimental aureolemeter data.
• Precise determination of input parameters like ground albedo and complex refractive index is critical for accurate aerosol retrieval.
• Proposed procedures enhance data analysis and calibration for improved atmospheric characterization.