The complex refractive index of volcanic ash aerosol retrieved from spectral mass extinction

The complex refractive indices of eight volcanic ash samples, chosen to have a representative range of SiO 2 contents, were retrieved from simultaneous measurements of their spectral mass extinction coefficient and size distribution. The mass extinction coefficients, at 0.33–19 μm, were measured usi...

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Main Authors: Reed, B, Peters, D, McPheat, R, Grainger, R
Format: Journal article
Published: Wiley 2018
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author Reed, B
Peters, D
McPheat, R
Grainger, R
author_facet Reed, B
Peters, D
McPheat, R
Grainger, R
author_sort Reed, B
collection OXFORD
description The complex refractive indices of eight volcanic ash samples, chosen to have a representative range of SiO 2 contents, were retrieved from simultaneous measurements of their spectral mass extinction coefficient and size distribution. The mass extinction coefficients, at 0.33–19 μm, were measured using two optical systems: a Fourier transform spectrometer in the infrared and two diffraction grating spectrometers covering visible and ultraviolet wavelengths. The particle size distribution was measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer and an optical particle counter; values for the effective radius of ash particles measured in this study varied from 0.574 to 1.16 μm. Verification retrievals on high-purity silica aerosol demonstrated that the Rayleigh continuous distribution of ellipsoids (CDEs) scattering model significantly outperformed Mie theory in retrieving the complex refractive index, when compared to literature values. Assuming the silica particles provided a good analogue of volcanic ash, the CDE scattering model was applied to retrieve the complex refractive index of the eight ash samples. The Lorentz formulation of the complex refractive index was used within the retrievals as a convenient way to ensure consistency with the Kramers-Kronig relation. The short-wavelength limit of the electric susceptibility was constrained by using independently measured reference values of the complex refractive index of the ash samples at a visible wavelength. The retrieved values of the complex refractive indices of the ash samples showed considerable variation, highlighting the importance of using accurate refractive index data in ash cloud radiative transfer models.
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spelling oxford-uuid:d07d548b-e69c-4a0b-972b-749534e4a49f2022-03-27T07:50:13ZThe complex refractive index of volcanic ash aerosol retrieved from spectral mass extinctionJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:d07d548b-e69c-4a0b-972b-749534e4a49fSymplectic Elements at OxfordWiley2018Reed, BPeters, DMcPheat, RGrainger, RThe complex refractive indices of eight volcanic ash samples, chosen to have a representative range of SiO 2 contents, were retrieved from simultaneous measurements of their spectral mass extinction coefficient and size distribution. The mass extinction coefficients, at 0.33–19 μm, were measured using two optical systems: a Fourier transform spectrometer in the infrared and two diffraction grating spectrometers covering visible and ultraviolet wavelengths. The particle size distribution was measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer and an optical particle counter; values for the effective radius of ash particles measured in this study varied from 0.574 to 1.16 μm. Verification retrievals on high-purity silica aerosol demonstrated that the Rayleigh continuous distribution of ellipsoids (CDEs) scattering model significantly outperformed Mie theory in retrieving the complex refractive index, when compared to literature values. Assuming the silica particles provided a good analogue of volcanic ash, the CDE scattering model was applied to retrieve the complex refractive index of the eight ash samples. The Lorentz formulation of the complex refractive index was used within the retrievals as a convenient way to ensure consistency with the Kramers-Kronig relation. The short-wavelength limit of the electric susceptibility was constrained by using independently measured reference values of the complex refractive index of the ash samples at a visible wavelength. The retrieved values of the complex refractive indices of the ash samples showed considerable variation, highlighting the importance of using accurate refractive index data in ash cloud radiative transfer models.
spellingShingle Reed, B
Peters, D
McPheat, R
Grainger, R
The complex refractive index of volcanic ash aerosol retrieved from spectral mass extinction
title The complex refractive index of volcanic ash aerosol retrieved from spectral mass extinction
title_full The complex refractive index of volcanic ash aerosol retrieved from spectral mass extinction
title_fullStr The complex refractive index of volcanic ash aerosol retrieved from spectral mass extinction
title_full_unstemmed The complex refractive index of volcanic ash aerosol retrieved from spectral mass extinction
title_short The complex refractive index of volcanic ash aerosol retrieved from spectral mass extinction
title_sort complex refractive index of volcanic ash aerosol retrieved from spectral mass extinction
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