Estimation of Stratospheric Aerosol Effects on Stratospheric Radiation Budget According to Optical Balloon Backscatter Probe and Radiation Modeling.

A method for evaluating stratospheric aerosol effects on the stratospheric radiation budget according to balloon sounding with an optical aerosol backscatter probe is presented. It is shown for the sounding in the equatorial zone under conditions of perturbed aerosol filling of the stratosphere that observed changes in the composition of stratospheric aerosol lead to significant changes (2–3-fold) in radiative heating. The evaluation technique is based on using the radiative (line-by-line and Monte Carlo) model of solar radiation transfer and can be especially useful in case of episodical perturbations of the stratospheric aerosol layer resulting from anthropogenic and natural disasters accompanied by aerosol emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]