Backscattering linear depolarization ratio measurements of mineral, sea-salt, and ammonium sulfate particles simulated in a laboratory chamber

The backscattering linear depolarization ratios of major types of tropospheric aerosol particles (Asian and Saharan mineral dust, sea salt, and ammonium sulfate) were measured using a laboratory chamber for interpreting the polarization lidar measurement of tropospheric aerosols. The values obtained from Asian and Saharan mineral particles were 0.39 [+ or -] 0.04 to 0.05 (mean [+ or -] standard deviation) for a high number of concentrations in the supermicrometer range and 0.17 [+ or -] 0.03 to 0.14 [+ or -] 0.03 in the submicrometer range. The values were 0.08 [+ or -] 0.01 for sea-salt crystals, 0.04 [+ or -] 0.003 for ammonium sulfate crystals, and 0.01 [+ or -] [less than or equal to] 0.001 for both liquid droplets in the submicrometer range. These values can serve as a reference for estimating aerosol type using lidar measurement. OCIS codes: 010.3640, 010.1100.