Inverse problem for aerosol particle size distribution using SPSO associated with multi-lognormal distribution model

A numerical study, used for particle size distributions of several classical aerosol types, is conducted in this paper. By improving the log-normal distribution model in previous paper, we employ the stochastic particle swarm optimization (SPSO) algorithm associated with a multi-lognormal distribution model. The nonambiguity and robustness of SPSO with this model is validated. We recover particle size distributions of two classical aerosol types using the measured AOT data (at wavelengths λ = 0.400, 0.690, 0.870, 1.020 μm) obtained from AERONET at different time. The results show that the model of this paper presents characteristics of aerosol particle size distributions at different regions and time. And this model shows good practicability to distinguish aerosol types and calculate particle size distributions.

► Retrieving particle size distribution using multi-lognormal distribution model by SPSO. ► Calculating the particle size distributions and distinguishing the aerosol type with this model. ► Comparing the different characteristics of different aerosol types in two typical regions.