Determination of atmospheric aerosol size distribution functions from screen diffusion battery data: Mathematical aspects

Abstract This paper considers the mathematical aspects of the reconstruction of size distribution functions of fine atmospheric aerosol from screen-type diffusion battery (SDB) measurements. It is shown that the problem of reconstruction may be successfully solved using Tikhonov's regularization method of the second order. A series of experimental data is considered, and the spectra obtained are classified. The bimodal size distribution is proved to exist in the highly dispersed fraction of atmospheric aerosol. The reliability of the solutions is analysed; it is found that, for the existing characteristics of the SDB, it is impossible to determine more than two modes. Recommendations on the planning of SDB experiments are given.

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