Measurement of Light Absorption Extinction in Denver

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Abstract
Simultaneous measurements of b ext (teleradiometer), b sp (integrating nephelometer), and b ag (N02 monitor) were used to obtain particle absorption extinction coefficients b ap for the Denver atmosphere during January 1982. The average of the ratio b ap/b sp was measured to be 0.185 ± 0.015 at 530 nm, which is 2–3 times smaller than previous measurements. Supplementary data included b ap measurements by the integrating plate method, which yielded values systematically higher by about 35%, and elemental carbon (black soot) aerosol concentration, from which a value of 8.0±0.6 m2 g−1 was obtained for the mass-specific absorption coefficient of elemental carbon.