MEASUREMENTS OF AEROSOL OPTICAL-PROPERTIES IN MARINE AIR

Airborne measurements of the optical properties of aerosols near the c oasts of California and Washington are presented. Parameters examined include the particle light-scattering coefficient (for both total scat tering and backscattering), the particle mass light-scattering efficie ncy, the hygroscopic growth factor for particle light scattering, and aerosol optical depths computed from vertical profiles of the light-sc attering coefficient. In several instances, the measured values of the se parameters differed from commonly accepted values, derived primaril y from more polluted airsheds. For example, the aerosol mass scatterin g efficiency was found to be 2.1 +/- 0.3 m(2) g(-1).