Sounding of aerosols with IASI - observations, retrievals and open questions

Multispectral infrared sounders were first designed for the sounding of atmospheric aerosols, as they were especially useful in capturing the broadband extinctions in the 650-1250 cm-1 range. A manifold of different techniques for retrieving aerosol properties such as optical depth and aerosol radii is available for such instruments. With the advent of improved sounders, new techniques should be developed, taking full advantage of the high spectral resolution the instruments have to offer.