ACE sulfate aerosol data

Stratospheric sulfate aerosols (SSAs) are an important part of the Earth’s climate system. SSA climate impact is determined in part by particle composition, which has now been measured from orbit. The weight % of sulfuric acid in SSAs has been determined from atmospheric infrared transmittance spectra recorded with the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) in limb geometry using the Sun as a light source (solar occultation). The global average SSA composition varies from about 50 to 80% with lowest values during the Antarctic winter. Atmospheric extinction at a wavelength of 1 μm was included in the analysis to improve the determination of the median radius of the aerosol particles and the slant column particle density. The composition and size of SSA particles are key parameters for reliable calculation of radiative transfer needed in climate research.