Evaluation of aerosol profile variations from satellite measurements through kernel functions for a stratified atmosphere

A linear relationship between the variations in radiance measured in the visible and the near infrared by satellites and those of aerosol extinction profile have been derived, hence reducing the problem to that of solving a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind. Single scattering approximation and a limitation in the aerosol profile variations represent the constraints for the validity of the mathematics procedure. The retrieved profiles, by the linear constrained inversion method, have proved to be accurate in the lower atmosphere, even if simultaneous changes are taking place in the stratosphere. Vice-versa, variations in the stratosphere are retrieved with a lesser degree of accuracy and only as long as no variations occur in the tropospheric haze