A model for identifying the aerosol-only mode of SAGE II 1.02-mu m extinction coefficient data at altitudes below 6.5 km

A model is proposed for identifying the aerosol mode of the second Stratosp heric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE II) 1.02-mu m extinction coefficient measurements at altitudes below 6.5 km, which also contain cloud samples. This development allows one to extend the SAGE II satellite data analysis f rom the lower limit at 6.5 km of the SAGE II two-wavelength method into the lower troposphere. Thus the proposed model provides opportunities for full y utilizing the SAGE II tropospheric measurements important to the understa nding of the global behavior of tropospheric aerosols, clouds, and ozone an d related transports. The effectiveness of this model is examined by using the SAGE II two-wavelength technique at 6.5 km. Sample applications of the proposed model reveal encouraging results. To assess the quality of the aer osol 1.02-mu m data, it is recommended that a comprehensive data comparison analysis be conducted by using tropospheric measurements from different in struments.