Complex refractive index of atmospheric dust aerosols

Abstract

This paper compares published data on the complex refractive index of atmospheric dust aerosols, for different geographical regions, with data obtained for dust aerosol samples collected during the joint U.S.S.R.—U.S. experiment in Tadzhikistan, 1989. The disadvantages of methods used for estimation of the imaginary part, æ, of the refractive index are discussed. There is a considerable range of values of æ for dust aerosols, which is crucial for optical characteristic simulation. The existing discrepancy in æ can be due to uncertainties in methods used as well as due to the specific chemical composition of dust aerosols from various geographic locations.