title: Models for integrated and differential scattering optical properties of encapsulated light absorbing carbon aggregates.
abstract: Optical properties of light absorbing carbon (LAC) aggregates encapsulated in a shell of sulfate are computed for realistic model geometries based on field measurements. Computations are performed for wavelengths from the UV-C to the mid-IR. Both climate- and remote sensing-relevant optical properties are considered. The results are compared to commonly used simplified model geometries, none of which gives a realistic representation of the distribution of the LAC mass within the host material and, as a consequence, fail to predict the optical properties accurately. A new core-gray shell model is introduced, which accurately reproduces the size- and wavelength dependence of the integrated and differential optical properties.
authors.affiliation: Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), Research Department, Folkborgsvägen 17, SE-601 76 Norrköping, Sweden. michael.kahnert@smhi.se
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kahnert
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nousiainen
authors.forename: Hannakaisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lindqvist
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008027:Light; D008956:Models, Chemical; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D018511:Systems Integration
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon