Relationships between aerosol optical depth and surface-layer extinction in the central part of the Upper Silesia industrial region over the period of 1983–1994

The subject of analysis is the aerosol optical depth (AOD) in the visible part of the solar spectrum (τvis) (wavelength μm). Calculation of τvis-values was based on pyrheliometric observation data performed from 1983 to 1994 at IEIAʹs station (Katowice-Załęże). This paper examines the dependence of τvis and its relation to surface-layer extinction coefficient σ (Koschmider quotient of 3.912 and visibility V) on meteorological and anthropological factors during the observation period. Knowledge of the relationship between columnar aerosol turbidity (which can be expressed by τvis) and σ allows a more precise and accurate estimation of the aerosol effect on the radiative composition of climate. This work offers some contributions to solving this problem. Therefore, the relations have been described in the form of mathematical/statistical models of AOD (based on “momentary” and mean seasonal values), in which meteorological (and astronomical) parameters as well as the amount of industry dust emission were used as independent variables to improve exactness and credibility in the models.