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Image Caption

Monthly zonal median radii in the months following the Hunga Tonga eruption.

Introduction

A new algorithm was developed to infer particle size distribution parameters from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III (SAGE III) on the International Space Station (ISS) extinction spectra using a lookup table (LUT) approach. 

Calculating Median Particle Size Distribution Values 

Here, the SAGE-based extinction ratios were matched to LUT values, and using these matches, weighted statistics were calculated to infer the median particle size distribution values as well as quantify the uncertainty in these estimates. This was carried out by solving for both single and bimodal lognormal distributions. 

Major Findings

The work presented herein falls under two general headings: 1. a theoretical study was carried out to determine the accuracy of this methodology; 2. the solution algorithm was applied to the SAGE III/ISS records with a brief case study analysis of the 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption.

Data Access

References

  • Knepp, T. N., Kovilakam, M., Thomason, L., and Miller, S. J.: Characterization of Particle Size Distribution Uncertainties using SAGE II and SAGE III/ISS Extinction Spectra, Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss. [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2023-207, in review, 2023.

Details

Last Updated

April 22, 2026

Published

Feb. 1, 2024

Data Center/Project

Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC)