Interpretation of Mauna Loa atmospheric transmission relative to aerosols, using photometric precipitable water amounts
Abstract
A parameter depending mostly on total aerosol extinction is derived using precipitable water measurements coinciding with direct broadband solar irradiance measurements in conjunction with an atmospheric transmission model. The atmospheric transmission factor (ATF), independent of the instrument calibration and the extraterrestrial solar constant, is calculated from irradiance measurements. The measured ATF value is then adjusted using precipitable water measurements. Calibrated solar photometrically derived precipitable water amounts observed at MLO are used to analyze the Mauna Loa, Hawaii (MLO) ATF record from 1978 to 1983. It is found that the ATF aerosol residual is approximately equal to the 500 nm aerosol optical depth prior to the eruption of El Chichon and a nonlinear time-dependent relationship between the two values is observed. The spectrally integrated aerosol influence on transmission and the radiation balance perturbations due to aerosols are reflected by the ATF aerosol residuals.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry
- Pub Date:
- June 1985
- DOI:
- 10.1007/BF00049368
- Bibcode:
- 1985JAtC....3...53D
- Keywords:
-
- Aerosols;
- Atmospheric Attenuation;
- Atmospheric Moisture;
- Photometry;
- Solar Radiation;
- Volcanoes;
- Air Pollution;
- Atmospheric Models;
- Hawaii;
- Optical Thickness;
- Precipitation (Meteorology);
- Time Dependence;
- Water Vapor