Optical properties of light absorbing carbon aggregates mixed with sulfate: assessment of different model geometries for climate forcing calculations
Journal article, 2012

Light scattering by light absorbing carbon (LAC) aggregates encapsulated into sulfate shells is computed by use of the discrete dipole method. Computations are performed for a UV, visible, and IR wavelength, different particle sizes, and volume fractions. Reference computations are compared to three classes of simplified model particles that have been proposed for climate modeling purposes. Neither model matches the reference results sufficiently well. Remarkably, more realistic core-shell geometries fall behind homogeneous mixture models. An extended model based on a core-shell-shell geometry is proposed and tested. Good agreement is found for total optical cross sections and the asymmetry parameter.

soot

proceedings of the royal society of london series a-mathematical physical

spheres

absorption cross-sections

aerosol-particles

t-matrix

1990

algorithms

wavelength

ang h

radiative properties

black carbon

electromagnetic scattering

Author

Michael Kahnert

Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Global Environmental Measurements and Modelling

T. Nousiainen

University of Helsinki

H. Lindqvist

University of Helsinki

M. Ebert

Technische Universität Darmstadt

Optics Express

1094-4087 (ISSN) 10944087 (eISSN)

Vol. 20 9 10042-10058

Aerosol Optics in Global Earth System Modelling (AGES)

Swedish Research Council (VR) (2011-3346), 2011-10-26 -- 2014-10-26.

Subject Categories

Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences

DOI

10.1364/OE.20.010042

More information

Latest update

5/23/2018