A simple method inverting light-scattering data of a diffusive system into the particle size distribution function

The information content of data for the spectral attenuation σ at λ=0.55 μm and for the Angstrom parameter α in the visible range for the marine atmosphere was examined for the use in the reconstruction of the aerosol particle size spectrum. The particle size distribution curve was parameterized by a sum of two log-normal distributions, which means that it contained six unknown parameters to be determined from the two measured characteristics. Some parameters were fixed at their typical values in order to diminish the uncertainty of the problem. In the example illustrating the procedure, the total particle concentration and the fraction of the fine and large component were fixed. The number of members of the ensemble was great, because the answer was ambiguous. It is remarkable, however, that in the active particle interval, different members of the ensemble have close distribution curves, so it is natural to accept an average curve as a solution to the problem. In spite of the small body of initial information, the accuracy of the procedure was quite reasonable. It can also be seen how the error grows with the particle radius