Can we predict aerosol extinction in a coastal environment

We have been engaged in a long-term test to determine the beam extinction effects of aerosols. During four test periods of one month duration each, we propagated a beam over a 7-km path near the ocean surface, and measured the received intensity in two near-infrared wavebands (1.061 μm and at 1.622 μm). In each test period, meteorological measurements were obtained from a meteorological buoy located at the mid-point of the propagation path. These meteorological data were used as input for the Advanced Navy Aerosol Model (ANAM). In this paper we will describe the comparison between the ANAM predictions and the measured transmission. We found that there are significant and sustained discrepancies between the ANAM model predictions and the optical transmission data. We will focus on two particular problems that have emerged from our comparison: first, the ANAM dependence on local wind speed can cause errors, and second, the local relative humidity is not optimally coupled in the ANAM. We will present the analysis we used to support these claims, and we will present recommendations for modifications to the model.