Uncertainties in the evaluation of the shortwave radiative properties of an aerosol layer due to experimental and numerical errors.
Estimates of the radiative effects of tropospheric aerosol layers require analysis of complex and to some extent indirect measurements. Each step in the measurement and analysis procedure contributes uncertainty to the final estimated values. The magnitudes of the resulting uncertainties in reflectivity, transmissivity, and absorptivity for a specific realistic experiment are estimated as functions of solar altitude and mean optical properties in the aerosol layer, assuming uniformity in the layer and sphericity of the particles. These values are typically approximately 2-8% for a narrow wavelength interval in the visible.
Baker
M B
MB
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA.
Coletti
A
A