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Spatial variation of stratospheric aerosol acidity and model refractive index - Implications of recent resultsRecent experimental results indicate that little or no solid ammonium sulfate is present in background stratospheric aerosols. Other results allow straightforward calculation of sulfuric acid/water droplet properties (acidity, specific gravity, refractive index) as functions of stratospheric temperature and humidity. These results are combined with a variety of latitudinal and seasonal temperature and humidity profiles to obtain corresponding profiles of droplet properties. These profiles are used to update a previous model of stratospheric aerosol refractive index. The new model retains the simplifying approximation of vertically constant refractive index in the inner stratosphere, but has sulfuric acid/water refractive index values that significantly exceed the previously used room temperature values. Mean conversion ratios (e.g., extinction-to-number, backscatter-to-volume) obtained using Mie scattering calculations with the new refractive indices are very similar to those obtained for the old indices, because the effects of deleting ammonium sulfate and increasing acid indices tend to cancel each other.
Document ID
19840063664
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Russell, P. B.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Hamill, P.
(San Jose State University San Jose, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Volume: 41
ISSN: 0022-4928
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
84A46451
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS1-16393
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS1-14314
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS1-14933
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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