Aerosol Optics: Light Absorption and Scattering by Particles in the Atmosphere [Hardcover]

This new text offers experienced students a comprehensive review of available techniques for the remote sensing of aerosols. These small particles influence both atmospheric visibility and the thermodynamics of the atmosphere. They are also of great importance in any consideration of climate change problems. Aerosols may also be responsible for the loss of harvests, human health problems and ecological disasters. Thus, this detailed study of aerosol properties on a global scale could not be more timely.

Springer/Praxis have a successful mini program of books on various aspects of light scattering, and now have a journal Light Scattering Review under consideration proposed by Alex Kokhanovsky. The atmospheric air contains not only gases but also various types of airborne particles (known as aerosols) ranging from dust grains to microbes. These small particles influence atmospheric visibility, the thermodynamics of the atmosphere, and they are also of great importance in any consideration of climate change problems. Aerosols may also be responsible for the loss of harvest, health problems among humans and ecological disasters. Therefore, it is of great importance to study aerosol properties on a global scale. Such studies ultimately should be based on global observations using instruments positioned on the space platforms.Microstructure and chemical composition.- Single light scattering and absorption by aerosol particles.- Optical properties of specific aerosol types.- Aerosol models.- Radiative transfer in aerosol media.- Aerosol passive remoted sensing.- Active remote sensing of aerosols.- Aerosols and climate.

From the reviews:

Aerosol Optics introduces two important theoretical problems in atmospheric sciences: optical scattering, emphasizing polarization and Fourier optics, and radiative transfer theory related specifically to aerosols in the atmosphere. ... Kokhanovsky ... balances theory, applications, and examplels