Infrared Measurements of Atmospheric Aerosol Extinction Coefficients Using a White Cell.

The extinction coefficients (the ratio of the effective cross section and the geometrical cross section) of three clay minerals, which are representative components of atmospheric dust aerosols, were measured as functions of wavelength in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The problems of particle-sizing instrument calibration for concentration and instrumentation design for a multipath white cell system are discussed. An aerosol dispersion and suspension system that presents a uniform aerosol to a folded-path infrared and visible optical system is also described.