A Method for Predicting Atmospheric Aerosol Scattering Coefficients in the Infrared

A method for predicting scattering coefficients in the atmospheric windows from 1.0 micro to 15.0 micro is presented. The method avoids the assumptions that the index of refraction and the aerosol distribution are constants over the range of relative humidity values. Relative humidity is taken as the independent variable with the aerosol distribution and index of refraction dependent upon the value of the relative humidity. A two-component continental and maritime aerosol distribution is used. Although strictly applicable to the 1.0-15.0 micro wavelength region, the calculations are extended with a lesser degree of accuracy into the visible region so that comparisons with measured data may be made.