Modeling of optical characteristics with Mie theory.

Written report due: March 14

To compute optical characteristics of a single spherical particle run MIE Code

  1. Compute and plot (as a function of the size parameter in a range from 0.2 to 20) the extinction Qe, scattering Qs, and absorption Qa efficiencies for non-absorbing (m = 1.5) and strong-absorbing (m=1.5-i0.5) aerosols. Identify and briefly discuss the main differences in Qe, Qs and Qa of these aerosol types.
  2. Calculate the total aerosol optical depth and the effective single scattering albedo at the 500 nm wavelength of a 1 km layer containing these two aerosol types. Assume that all particles have a radius of 0.2 μm, and both aerosol types have a particle number concentration of N= 100 #/cm3.
  3. Compute the scattering phase function and compare it with the Henyey-Greenstein scattering phase function with the same assymerty parameter g. Consider the size parameters from 0.1 to 100.
  4. Polarization is a unique property of the electromagnetic radiation. Compute the linear polarization for a range of size parameters. Interpret your results, i.e., how changes in the size parameter affect the polarization. Consider the size parameters from 0.1 to 100.