Remote Sensing of Aerosols using Sunphotometer

In this book, we have described the optical and physical properties of aerosol which are considered to be an important in the Earth's radiation budget. The method of detection of various aerosol properties using ground-based automated Sun-sky radiometer is mentioned, by illustrating the measurements taken over one of a station, as part of Sun photometer worldwide network, named AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork). Besides, the basic details of Sun photometer, we have also illustrated the importance of synoptic weather parameters and use of trajectory analysis. Aerosol measurements from Sun photometer and satellite are compared and assessed the instruments capabilities. Using a large amount of data measured over a sub-tropical site in South Africa, we have studied the various optical properties of aerosol and their mutual relationship for addressing aerosol types. Classification and identification of different types of aerosol are elucidated by various methods. Apart from the results obtained, the study location has been considered to be significant due to only very few studies reported on aerosol properties, especially in the Southern Hemisphere and in Southern Africa region.