Summary: | Recent measurements of aerosol particles indicate the presence of a large optically absorbing component which can cause visibility degradation and climatic effects. The nature of this absorbing species has been investigated by a variety of modern methods of analysis, which has led to its identification on a microscopic level as graphitic (black) carbon. In our paper this methodology is described and extended to the quantification of graphitic carbon and its absorption coefficient. New results from the Arctic are also presented, which show the presence of graphitic carbon concentrations comparable to those found in urban environments.
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