Colloquium: Dr. Adriana Rocha Lima | UMBC

TITLE:  The Complexity of the Complex Refractive Index

ABSTRACT: Atmospheric aerosols are complex mixtures of heterogeneous particles with a wide range of shapes, sizes, and compositions. Understanding how these particles scatter and absorb light remains a fundamental challenge, in part because their optical properties are difficult to measure and characterize. In particular, determining the spectral complex refractive index of aerosol particles is essential for understanding and modeling their interactions with radiation, with important implications for climate and Earth’s energy balance.

In this presentation, I will discuss the concept of the complex refractive index and its role in describing aerosol optical properties. I will then present ongoing experiments at the Laboratory for Atmospheric Studies and Particle Light Interaction (LASPLI) aimed at measuring these properties and improving our understanding of aerosol light interactions and their processes in the atmosphere.