Comparison of Aerosol Shape Observed by Electron Microscope and Depolarization Ratio -Laboratory Experiment-

Abstract

Depolarization ratio of scattered light from aerosol particles strongly reflects nonsphericity of particle shape. We observed the depolarization ratio at a scattering angle = 90° for NaCl, Na₂SO₄ and (NH₄)₂SO₄ particles, and the ratios from these particles were in good agreement with the measurements by Perry et al. (1978). The depolarization ratio is considered to be useful to know external mixing ratio of aerosol particles in the atmosphere.