Vertical variation of extinction and atmospheric transmission due to aerosol particles close above the sea surface in the Mediterranean coastal zone

Jacques Piazzola; Serge Despiau

doi:10.1117/1.601695

1 June 1998 Vertical variation of extinction and atmospheric transmission due to aerosol particles close above the sea surface in the Mediterranean coastal zone

Jacques Piazzola, Serge Despiau

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Optical Engineering, Vol. 37, Issue 6, (June 1998). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.601695

The vertical variation of extinction and backscatter in the lowest part of the atmospheric mixed layer is of considerable interest for the assessment of the performance of electro-optical systems, but is poorly known. Our purpose is to estimate the vertical variation of extinction and atmospheric transmission due to aerosol particles near the air-sea interface. Atmospheric extinction coefficients in the 3- to 5- and 8- to 12-µm IR bands calculated using vertical aerosol distributions measured in the Mediterranean coastal zone are presented. The data reveal a negative extinction gradient between 1 and 2 to 3 m height during winds of marine origin lower than 9 m/s, whereas a positive gradient occurs between 1 and 2 to 3 m height during high-wind-speed periods (V?9 m/s). A positive extinction gradient is also noted for vertical profiles recorded during moderate continental winds. These extinction gradients result in a relative difference in atmospheric transmission between two sample heights that reach 60% in both the 3- to 5- and 8- to 12-µm bands for an optical path of 10 km during high-wind-speed periods. These observed differences cannot be explained by current models to predict the vertical aerosol distribution.

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Jacques Piazzola and Serge Despiau "Vertical variation of extinction and atmospheric transmission due to aerosol particles close above the sea surface in the Mediterranean coastal zone," Optical Engineering 37(6), (1 June 1998). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.601695

Published: 1 June 1998

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