Vol. 20, issue 06, article # 5

Abstract:

We introduce a concept of "influence zone," taken to mean the atmospheric region capable to influence readings of a sun photometer within a given time interval as a result of passage of an air mass from this region over the observation site. Based on analysis of back trajectories of air masses, we have estimated the quantitative characteristics of influence zones for different seasons of a year, time intervals studied, and isobaric transport surfaces. Preliminary analysis of episodes of air arrival to the observation point at the Kourovka astronomic observatory from large regional pollution sources has been performed. An attempt was undertaken to determine correlations between these episodes and the aerosol optical depth for different wavelengths, as well as parameters of the aerosol particle size distribution function.