Aerosol Optical Depth and Ratios of Diffuse-Sky to Total Solar Irradiance Measured from Aircraft Following the Eruption of El Chichon

摘要

Spectral aerosol optical depth and relative measurements of diffuse and total solar irradiance fields were made from an aircraft flying in the upper troposphere following the April 1982 eruption of El Chichon. Two series of flights were flown, one in December 1982-January 1983 and the other in May 1983. The optical depth measurements reveal the latitudinal distribution of the stratospheric volcanic debris between 50 deg N and 6 deg S latitude for December-January and 72 deg N and 56 deg S for May. The ratios of the downward diffuse to the downward total solar irradiance and albedo at aircraft altitude are given for times determined to be cloud free above the aircraft. The report describes the acquisition of and access to the data obtained on the flights, and presents edited results in summary graphical and tabular form.