Simulation model of absorption and scattering properties of laser light applied to urban aerosols over the city of Popayan, Colombia

摘要

Aerosols are among the most spatially variable components of the atmosphere, and thus their study requires their monitoring over a broad geographic range. The backscattering of light from suspended solid and liquid particles in the atmosphere obeys Mie scattering theory. Light attenuation in the spectral region from 300 to 4000 nm due to Mie scattering exceeds that due to molecular (Rayleigh) scattering and ozone absorption combined. This occurs despite the fact that aerosol particle concentrations in the atmosphere are many orders of magnitude smaller than molecular concentrations. Starting from the characteristics of urban aerosols measured over the city of Popayan (Colombia), 2° 27' N; 76° 37' W, with a PM10 particle selector, we present the results of a study of light attenuation properties generated using Matlab computer code, to simulate and predict measurements with a Lidar system operating at 514.5 nm.