Insights on Direct Forcing: Aerosol Albedo Measurements in the Visible and Near UV

The direct climate forcing effect of aerosols is determined by the optical properties of aerosols, namely scattering, absorption, and extinction. Recent efforts in our laboratory have led to the development of an aerosol albedometer, a device to simultaneously determine aerosol scattering and extinction coefficients. This device has been utilized to make measurements on both laboratory generated and ambient aerosols in the visible and near – ultraviolet spectral range. This seminar will present what we have learned about optical properties of urban aerosols in the LA basin during the CALNEX campaign, wind-blown mineral dusts, laboratory generated secondary organic aerosols, and ambient aerosols at Lubbock, TX.