Calculation of optical extinction from aerosol spectral data

Abstract
A major overwater experiment, MAGAT-80, has been undertaken to verify the use of aerosol spectrometers to calculate optical extinction in the marine boundary layer. Techniques for data averaging and for extrapolation to large particle sizes are described. Coincident optical, aerosol, and meteorological measurements by ship, aircraft, and an overwater optical range show that aerosol spectra can be used to predict extinction to within 40%.