Atmospheric aerosol scattering background observations

Optical scattering, under very clear atmospheric conditions, was measured in situ and analyzed. The experiments were made with a large balloonborne nephelometer launched from Holloman AFB, New Mexico and flown to 26 km altitude. Profiles of angular scattering and polarization properties of atmospheric aerosols show contrast with aerosol particles encountered in the troposphere and stratosphere. The results are compared with those obtained using particle counters under similar atmospheric conditions.