Predictions of the spectral absorption and extinction coefficients of an urban air pollution aerosol model
Abstract
An urban air pollution aerosol model is developed for various chemical compositions and size distributions. The spectral absorption and extinction coefficients are predicted from the Mie theory for mixtures consisting of non-absorbing (quartz), absorbing (carbon), and metal-like (nickel) particles. The spectral optical thickness (turbidity) of the atmosphere due to the aerosol is presented for an exponential vertical distribution. The effects of size distribution and chemical composition of the spectral absorption and extinction coefficients are discussed. It is found that the inclusion of carbon particles implies a wavelength independent spectral absorption coefficient for a haze L size distribution which is in agreement with experimental evidence. The effects of the metal-like particles are concluded to be negligible since they do not exist in large enough quantities in the urban atmosphere. The differences between using a wavelength constant mean index of refraction and materials whose indices of refraction are wavelength dependent are discussed.
- Publication:
-
Atmospheric Environment
- Pub Date:
- 1972
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0004-6981(72)90083-2
- Bibcode:
- 1972AtmEn...6..247B