Nonspherical particles optical properties study

• Grant number: 09/18516-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2010
• End date: December 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Meteorology
• Principal Investigator: Márcia Akemi Yamasoe
• Grantee: Julio Cesar Morais
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Recent research indicates that using a spherical model to study light scattering of particles with nonspherical shapes can introduce large incertainties in esimating the direct radiative forcing of aerosol particles. This project aims estimating relevant optical properties of nonspherical aerosol particles important for calculating their climate direct radiative forcing (such as single scattering albedo, phase function and extinction coefficient covering the solar spectrum). The student will use T-matrix code developed by Mishchenko (1981). (AU)