Some Insights on the Interaction of Light with Atmospheric Aerosol Particles Comprised of Disordered Materials

The ability to accurately calculate the scatteringScattering and absorptionAbsorption properties of atmospheric aerosolAerosol particles is crucial for atmospheric modeling and remote sensing. Theoretical calculations of the scattering and absorption of solar radiation by aerosol particles have been carried out for decades, and much progress has been made over the years in describing the scattering of solar radiation not just by homogeneous spherical particles, but also by complex aerosol particle configurations and shapes, such as internal mixtures of different components, including layered particles; bare and coated aggregates; spheroids, ellipsoids, cylinders, Chebyshev particles, and other non-spherical shapes. In this review, we will focus on a specific type of complexity in internal aerosol configuration, namely aerosolAerosol particles comprised of disorderedDisordered materials with and without macroscopic porosity. We will review the unique considerations in simulating the scatteringScattering of light by such particles and some specific insights obtained over the years from the research of our group.