Mixture Of Ammonium Sulfate Research Articles

Hygroscopic behavior of atmospherically relevant water-soluble carboxylic salts and their influence on the water uptake of ammonium sulfate

Abstract. The hygroscopic behavior of atmospherically relevant water-soluble carboxylic salts and their effects on ammonium sulfate were investigated using a hygroscopicity tandem differential mobility analyzer (H-TDMA). No hygroscopic growth is observed for disodium oxalate, while ammonium oxalate shows slight growth (growth factor = 1.05 at 90%). The growth factors at 90% RH for sodium acetate, disodium malonate, disodium succinate, disodium tartrate, diammonium tartrate, sodium pyruvate, disodium maleate, and humic acid sodium salt are 1.79, 1.78, 1.69, 1.54, 1.29, 1.70, 1.78, and 1.19, respectively. The hygroscopic growth of mixtures of organic salts with ammonium sulfate, which are prepared as surrogates of atmospheric aerosols, was determined. A clear shift in deliquescence relative humidity to lower RH with increasing organic mass fraction was observed for these mixtures. Above 80% RH, the contribution to water uptake by the organic salts was close to that of ammonium sulfate for the majority of investigated compounds. The observed hygroscopic growth of the mixed particles at RH above the deliquescence relative humidity of ammonium sulfate agreed well with that predicted using the Zdanovskii-Stokes-Robinson (ZSR) mixing rule. Mixtures of ammonium sulfate with organic salts are more hygroscopic than mixtures with organic acids, indicating that neutralization by gas-phase ammonia and/or association with cations of dicarbonxylic acids may enhance the hygroscopicity of the atmospheric particles.

Evaluation of intervals between observations on estimation of eating behavior of cattle

The effect of different intervals between observations on the estimation of the eating behavior of dairy heifers and lactating cows was evaluated. Twenty Holstein-zebu crossbred dairy heifers were distributed in a completely randomized design, with four levels and five repetitions, fed isonitrogenous diets containing 71% sugar cane and 29% concentrate. Also, 16 dairy crossbred cows were distributed in a completely randomized design, with four levels and four repetitions. They received isonitrogenous diets, containing 85% sugar cane and 1% concentrate. For both heifers and lactating cows, the sugar cane used was treated with doses of 0, 0.75, 1.5 and 2.25% CaO, and corrected with 1% of urea and ammonium sulfate mixture (9:1), at the moment of offering the diets. The experimental period was 21 days long, with observations done on the 19th and 20th days, during 24 hours, at intervals of 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes. For both heifers and cows, lower values were verified for number of periods (nº/day) and higher values were obtained for average time spent per period of eating, rumination and idle activities, for 10-, 15- and 20-minute intervals. The mean dry matter and neutral detergent fiber with corrections for ash and protein intake per period of eating was also lower for 10-, 15- and 20-minute intervals. The intervals between observations of 10, 15 and 20 minutes lead to underestimation of the number of periods (nº/day) and to overestimation of the average time spent per period of eating, rumination and idle (min) on dairy heifers and cows, resulting in fallacy estimations. The use of 5-minute intervals for studying cattle eating behavior is recommended.

New and extended parameterization of the thermodynamic model AIOMFAC: calculation of activity coefficients for organic-inorganic mixtures containing carboxyl, hydroxyl, carbonyl, ether, ester, alkenyl, alkyl, and aromatic functional groups

Abstract. We present a new and considerably extended parameterization of the thermodynamic activity coefficient model AIOMFAC (Aerosol Inorganic-Organic Mixtures Functional groups Activity Coefficients) at room temperature. AIOMFAC combines a Pitzer-like electrolyte solution model with a UNIFAC-based group-contribution approach and explicitly accounts for interactions between organic functional groups and inorganic ions. Such interactions constitute the salt-effect, may cause liquid-liquid phase separation, and affect the gas-particle partitioning of aerosols. The previous AIOMFAC version was parameterized for alkyl and hydroxyl functional groups of alcohols and polyols. With the goal to describe a wide variety of organic compounds found in atmospheric aerosols, we extend here the parameterization of AIOMFAC to include the functional groups carboxyl, hydroxyl, ketone, aldehyde, ether, ester, alkenyl, alkyl, aromatic carbon-alcohol, and aromatic hydrocarbon. Thermodynamic equilibrium data of organic-inorganic systems from the literature are critically assessed and complemented with new measurements to establish a comprehensive database. The database is used to determine simultaneously the AIOMFAC parameters describing interactions of organic functional groups with the ions H+, Li+, Na+, K+, NH4+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl−, Br−, NO3−, HSO4−, and SO42−. Detailed descriptions of different types of thermodynamic data, such as vapor-liquid, solid-liquid, and liquid-liquid equilibria, and their use for the model parameterization are provided. Issues regarding deficiencies of the database, types and uncertainties of experimental data, and limitations of the model, are discussed. The challenging parameter optimization problem is solved with a novel combination of powerful global minimization algorithms. A number of exemplary calculations for systems containing atmospherically relevant aerosol components are shown. Amongst others, we discuss aqueous mixtures of ammonium sulfate with dicarboxylic acids and with levoglucosan. Overall, the new parameterization of AIOMFAC agrees well with a large number of experimental datasets. However, due to various reasons, for certain mixtures important deviations can occur. The new parameterization makes AIOMFAC a versatile thermodynamic tool. It enables the calculation of activity coefficients of thousands of different organic compounds in organic-inorganic mixtures of numerous components. Models based on AIOMFAC can be used to compute deliquescence relative humidities, liquid-liquid phase separations, and gas-particle partitioning of multicomponent mixtures of relevance for atmospheric chemistry or in other scientific fields.

Temporally and spatially resolved investigation on the efflorescence process of a mixed droplet of ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate

Temporally and spatially resolved investigations of the efflorescence of equimolar mixtures of ammonium sulfate (AS) and ammonium nitrate (AN) aerosol droplets were performed by confocal Raman spectroscopy combined with high-speed photography. Information was obtained on the dynamic process of morphological changes and the heterogeneous distribution of efflorescence products. The supersaturated AS/AN mixed droplet was found to first precipitate as the double salt 3AN·AS when the relative humidity was 50%. The excess AS was irregularly distributed on the surface of the double salt as an inclusion structure. No formation of 2AN·AS was observed throughout the efflorescence process.

Effects of field-applied composted cattle manure and chemical fertilizer on ammonia and particulate ammonium exchanges at an upland field

The present study aimed to investigate the NH 3 volatilization loss from field-applied compost and chemical fertilizer and evaluate the atmosphere–land exchange of NH 3 and particulate NH 4 + (pNH 4) at an upland field with volcanic ash soil (Andosol) in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Two-step basal fertilization was conducted on the bare soil surface. First, a moderately fermented compost of cattle manure was applied by surface incorporation (mixing depth, 0–15 cm) at a rate of 117 kg N ha −1 as total nitrogen (T-N) corresponding to 9.9 kg N ha −1 as ammoniacal nitrogen (NH 4–N). Twelve days later, a chemical fertilizer containing 10% (w/w) of NH 4–N as a mixture of ammonium sulfate and ammonium phosphates was applied by row placement (cover depth, 3 cm) at a rate of 100 kg N ha −1 as NH 4–N. The study period was divided into the first-half, beginning after the compost application (CCM period), and the second-half, beginning after the chemical fertilizer application (CF period). The mean air concentrations of NH 3 and pNH 4 (1.5 m height) were 7.6 and 3.0 μg N m −3, respectively, in the CCM period; the values were 3.7 and 3.9 μg N m −3, respectively, in the CF period. The composition ratios of NH 3 to the sum of NH 3 and pNH 4 (1.5 m height) were 72% and 49% in the CCM and CF periods, respectively. The NH 3 volatilization loss from the compost was 0.8% of the applied T-N (or 9.3% of the applied NH 4–N) and that from the chemical fertilizer was near zero. Excluding the period immediately after the compost application, the upland field acted as a net sink for NH 3 and pNH 4.

Balanço de compostos nitrogenados e produção de proteína microbiana em novilhas leiteiras alimentadas com palma forrageira, bagaço de cana-de-açúcar e uréia associados a diferentes suplementos

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da associação de palma forrageira ao bagaço de cana-de-açúcar e à uréia sobre o balanço de compostos nitrogenados e a produção de proteína microbiana em novilhas leiteiras recebendo ou não suplemento. Foram utilizadas 25 novilhas da raça Girolando, com peso vivo médio inicial de 227 kg, confinadas, distribuídas em delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, estabelecidos de acordo com o peso dos animais. A ração controle (sem suplemento) foi composta de 64,0% de palma forrageira, 30,0% de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar, 4,0% de mistura uréia:sulfato de amônio (9:1) e 2,0% de mistura mineral, com base na matéria seca (MS), e as rações experimentais, de 57,0% de palma forrageira, 26,0% de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar, 3,5% de mistura uréia:sulfato de amônio, 1,8% de mistura mineral e 11,7% de suplemento (0,5% do PV dos animais). Os suplementos testados foram: farelo de trigo, farelo de soja, farelo de algodão ou caroço de algodão. O balanço de nitrogênio não foi influenciado pelas dietas e apresentou valor médio de 49,3 g/dia. A suplementação com farelo de algodão ou com farelo de soja aumentou a excreção de nitrogênio na urina, a concentração de uréia e nitrogênio uréico no plasma e a excreção urinária de uréia e nitrogênio uréico. A associação da palma forrageira ao bagaço de cana-de-açúcar e à uréia, sem o uso de suplementos, permite eficiência de síntese microbiana de 105 gPBmic/kg de NDT consumido. A suplementação com caroço de algodão proporciona maior excreção urinária de alantoína e derivados de purina e melhor eficiência de síntese microbiana, portanto, é a mais indicada nestas condições.

Parameterization for the relative humidity dependence of light extinction: Organic‐ammonium sulfate aerosol

Atmospheric particles are a complex mixture of inorganic and organic compounds. This study uses laboratory generated particles to examine the connection between aerosol light extinction, chemical composition, and hygroscopicity for particles composed of internal mixtures of ammonium sulfate and water‐soluble organic compounds. The extinction coefficient (σep) at 532 nm was measured for size‐selected particles at <10% RH and 80% RH. The ratio of the extinction coefficients at 80% RH to <10% RH is reported as fRHext(80% RH, dry). The fRHext(80% RH, dry) values were similar for particles composed of various water‐soluble organic compounds and different functional groups. In addition, fRHext(80% RH, dry) values were relatively insensitive to the composition of the organic fraction for internal mixtures of ammonium sulfate with sugars, dicarboxylic acids and complex mixtures of water‐soluble organic compounds. Finally, fRHext(80% RH, dry) was found to vary linearly with the organic/inorganic content, allowing for simple incorporation of organic properties into atmospheric models. We derived a generalization of fRHext(80% RH, dry) = 2.90 – 0.015(wt% organic species) for a particle size distribution with a dry mean optical diameter of 0.35 μm. This parameterization for ammonium sulfate/water‐soluble organic aerosol is applicable to the fine particle mode fraction of atmospheric aerosol. Information necessary to incorporate the variation in the size distribution is also included. This work suggests that neglecting the water uptake by the organic fraction of atmospheric particles could lead to significant underestimation of the cooling at the Earth's surface due to light scattering by aerosol.

Hygroscopic growth and water uptake kinetics of two-phase aerosol particles consisting of ammonium sulfate, adipic and humic acid mixtures

The hygroscopic growth of solid aerosol particles consisting of mixtures of ammonium sulfate and either adipic acid or Aldrich humic acid sodium salt was characterized with a hygroscopicity tandem differential mobility analyzer and an electrodynamic balance. In particular, the time required for the aerosol particle phase and the surrounding water vapor to reach equilibrium at high relative humidity (RH) was investigated. Depending on the chemical composition of the particles, residence times of > 40 s were required to reach equilibrium at 85% RH, yielding up to a 7% reduction in the measured hygroscopic growth factors from measurements at 4 s residence time compared to measurements at equilibrium. We suggest that the solid organic compound, when present as the dominant component, encloses the water-soluble inorganic salt in veins and cavities, resulting in the observed slow water uptake. Comparison with predictions from the Zdanovskii–Stokes–Robinson relation shows enhanced water uptake of the mixed particles. This is explained with the presence of the salt solution in veins resulting in a negative curvature of the solution meniscus at the opening of the vein. In conclusion, it is important for studies of mixtures of water soluble compounds with insoluble material to allow for sufficient residence time at the specified humidity to reach equilibrium before the hygroscopicity measurements.

Effects of the addition of different nitrogen sources in the tequila fermentation process at high sugar concentration

To study the effect of the addition of different nitrogen sources at high sugar concentration in the tequila fermentation process. Fermentations were performed at high sugar concentration (170 g l(-1)) using Agave tequilana Weber blue variety with and without added nitrogen from different sources (ammonium sulfate; glutamic acid; a mixture of ammonium sulfate and amino acids) during the exponential phase of growth. All the additions increased the fermentation rate and alcohol efficiency. The level of synthesis of volatile compounds depended on the source added. The concentration of amyl alcohols and isobutanol were decreased while propanol and acetaldehyde concentration increased. The most efficient nitrogen sources for fermentation rate were ammonium sulfate and the mixture of ammonium sulfate and amino acids. The level of volatile compounds produced depended upon types of nitrogen. The synthesis of some volatile compounds increased while others decreased with nitrogen addition. The addition of nitrogen could be a strategy for improving the fermentation rate and efficiency in the tequila fermentation process at high sugar Agave tequilana concentration. Furthermore, the sensory quality of the final product may change because the synthesis of the volatile compounds is modified.

Ion-induced multiply reentrant liquid-liquid transitions and the nature of criticality in ethanol-water mixture

We report a quite unusual feature of four liquid-liquid reentrant transitions in ethanol (E)+water (W)+ammonium sulfate mixture by meticulous tuning of the ammonium sulfate concentration in a narrow range, as a function of temperature, at atmospheric pressure. Detailed exploration of the intricate phase behavior in terms of E/W sections shows that the range of triple reentrance shrinks with increasing E/W. The behavior of osmotic susceptibility is investigated by light scattering, near the critical point, in the one-phase region by varying the temperature at fixed concentration of the components, in a particular E/W section. The critical exponent of susceptibility (gamma) and correlation length (nu) are observed to have Fisher renormalized Ising values [Phys. Rev. 176, 237 (1968)], with gamma(r)=1.41 and nu(r)=0.718. The effective susceptibility exponent, gamma(eff), exhibits a sharp, nonmonotonic crossover from Ising to mean-field critical behavior, which is completed outside the critical regime. The amplitude of the correlation length, xi(o)(=21.2+/-0.4 A), deduced from light scattering experiment, is an order of magnitude larger than the typical values in usual aqueous electrolyte systems. This value of xi(o) is further verified from small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments and found to be consistent. SAXS experiments on the critical sample reveal the presence of long-ranged intermolecular correlations, leading to supramolecular structuring, at a temperature far away from the critical point. These results convincingly demonstrate that the finite length scale arising due to the structuring competes with the diverging correlation length of critical concentration fluctuations, which influences the nonasymptotic critical behavior in this aqueous electrolyte system. The sulphate ions play a dominant role in both structuring and the complex phase behavior.

Phase changes in the syrian phosphorite–ammonium sulphate system

With a complex of physico-chemical methods for analysis it is proved that in the course of mechanochemical treatment of a Syrian phosphorite and ammonium sulphate mixture new phases have been formed. The thermal analysis proves an increase in the reaction properties of the ammonium sulphate and the Syrian phosphorite which is a prerequisite for the increase in the content of P2O5assimilated , in the activated phosphorite mixtures and the possibility to use them in the production of NP complex fertilizers.

Phase changes in the Syrian phosphorite-ammonium sulphate system

With a complex of physico-chemical methods for analysis it is proved that in the course of mechanochemical treatment of a Syrian phosphorite and ammonium sulphate mixture new phases have been formed. The thermal analysis proves an increase in the reaction properties of the ammonium sulphate and the Syrian phosphorite which is a prerequisite for the increase in the content of P 2 O assimilated 5 , in the activated phosphorite mixtures and the possibility to use them in the production of NP complex fertilizers.

Observational and modeling studies of chemical species concentrations as a function of raindrop size

The Guttalgor method has been used to determine the chemical species concentrations in size-selected raindrops in nine rain events at Hong Kong from 1999 to 2001. The curve (concentration against raindrop radius) patterns for all the species are similar but depend on the starting time of sampling within a rain event. In these plots, the maximum concentration occurs at the same range of droplet radius, irrespective of the species, and this indicates the importance of coalescence and breakup processes. The maximum is located at a smaller droplet radius than was found in previous studies in Germany. All results show almost constant concentrations with size for large raindrops, and these indicate the in-cloud contributions. The pH of raindrops of similar size is linearly correlated with a function of the sulfate, nitrate, acetate, formate, calcium and ammonium ion species concentrations. Within a single raindrop, chloride depletion is not significant, and sulfate, ammonium and hydrogen ions are found in ratios compatible with the precursor solid-phase mixture of ammonium sulfate and ammonium bisulphate. When simulated by a below-cloud model, good agreement between the modeled and measured sodium and sulfate concentrations has been found. Below-cloud sulfur dioxide scavenging contributes at most 60% of the sulfate concentration in a single raindrop.

Aircraft-based operation of an aerosol mass spectrometer: Measurements of tropospheric aerosol composition

The Aerodyne quadrupole aerosol mass spectrometer was deployed on the Falcon twin jet research aircraft operated by Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR). This was the first deployment of an AMS in a jet aircraft. Aerosol mass concentration measurements in the troposphere up to altitudes of about 11 km were performed within two measurement flights on 12 and 14 May 2003 over southern Germany. Background aerosol data were gained up to 6 km, while aircraft exhaust aerosol was be sampled at higher altitudes on 14 May, indicating the presence of sulfuric acid and unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust particles. The boundary layer aerosol on 12 May was found to be composed of 49% organics, 12% sulfate, 15% ammonium, and 24% nitrate by mass. The upper edge of the boundary layer was marked by a sharp decrease of nitrate and ammonium at an altitude of 3 km, while sulfate and organics decreased to a much lesser degree. On 14 May, the boundary layer aerosol was composed of 23% organics, 20% sulfate, 24% ammonium, and 33% nitrate by mass, and the boundary layer reached up to about 5000 m and had no sharp upper edge. The size distributions indicated internal mixtures of ammonium sulfate and –nitrate in the boundary layer, while the organics were externally mixed. Additionally, a smaller mode consisting only of ammonium sulfate, was detected. This bimodal structure of ammonium sulfate was also detected above the boundary layer in 6 km altitude on 14 May.

Monitoring of the evolved gases in apatite-ammonium sulfate thermal reactions

Thermal reactions in natural fluorapatite or fluorcarbonate apatite and ammonium sulfate mixtures with mole ratio 1:4 at calcination up to 500°C were studied by simultaneous thermogravimetry and FTIR analysis of the evolved gases. The composition of natural apatite has little impact on the release of NH3. Upon the evolution of NH3 nitrous oxides were found in minor amounts. The release of SO2 at temperatures above 400°C is more intensive and occurs at lower temperatures in the case of fluorapatite than of carbonate containing apatites. Evolution of CO2 starts at 250°C with maximum at 350-360°C.

Ice nucleation in internally mixed ammonium sulfate/dicarboxylic acid particles

Recent studies have shown that tropospheric sulfate aerosols commonly contain 50% or more by mass organic species. The influence of these organics on the chemical and physical properties of sulfate aerosols is not fully established. Using an aerosol flow tube technique, we have determined ice nucleation temperatures for particles composed of ammonium sulfate and mixtures of ammonium sulfate with a series of dicarboxylic acids. A calibration curve was developed to allow us to convert the freezing temperatures to a saturation ratio required for ice nucleation. At levels detectable by our experimental technique we find that the freezing temperatures and critical ice saturation ratios of each system were identical, for a given water activity of the solution, even though the solutions contained varying fractions of inorganic and organic components. Further experiments showed that the freezing behavior of pure dicarboxylic acid particles was identical to that of the other systems studied if the water activity was identical. Although the apparent freezing temperatures reported here are substantially warmer than those predicted by the water activity based nucleation theory of T. Koop et al., we find that solution water activity defined the freezing conditions for the systems studied here.

Water uptake of internally mixed particles containing ammonium sulfate and dicarboxylic acids

Abstract There is increasing evidence that organic compounds comprise a significant fraction of tropospheric particles at all altitudes. The presence of these compounds can affect the particles’ ability to take up water and to form ice in the atmosphere. In this paper we present studies that investigate the hygroscopic behavior of internal mixtures of ammonium sulfate and low molecular weight dicarboxylic acids. We find that the ammonium sulfate dominates water uptake behavior for mixtures that contain 100:1 and 10:1 mass ratios of ammonium sulfate:dicarboxylic acid. However, for 1:1 mixtures, the dicarboxylic acids play an important role in determining water uptake characteristics. Observed water contents can be predicted within experimental uncertainties by assuming that each component contributes independently to the total particle water content, in accord with previous measurements for the pure components.

Cotton Response to Source and Timing of Nitrogen Fertilization on a Sandy Coastal Plain Soil

A three‐year field study was conducted to evaluate cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) response to the source and timing of nitrogen (N) on an irrigated coastal plain soil (Lucy loamy sand; Arenic Kandiudults) in south Alabama. Cotton acreage in this region has increased in the past ten years and there was a need for current data describing cotton response to N fertilization. Treatments included N sources, timing of N application (ammonium nitrate), split applications of N (ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate), and a no‐N check. Nitrogen sources applied preplant included: (i) ammonium nitrate (34‐0‐0); (ii) ammonium sulfate (21‐0‐0‐24.2); (iii) urea (46‐0‐0); (iv) urea–ammonium nitrate solution (UAN; 32‐0‐0); (v) UAN + ammonium thiosulfate (28‐0‐0‐5). Non‐sulfur sources were applied with and without additional sulfur (S). Times of application were preplant, first true leaf, first square, and first bloom. Two treatments received split applications of N as a 50:50 mixture of ammonium sulfate with urea or ammonium nitrate. Supplemental applications of potassium (K) were evaluated by applying ammonium sulfate in combination with 56 kg K/ha. Yield data showed some minor differences among sources, but overall the results of this three‐year study show that there were no superior N sources. For ammonium nitrate, preplant applications of N were sufficient in two out of three years. Split applications of ammonium nitrate did not improve yields as compared to preplant N. Applying ammonium sulfate with supplemental K or as a 50:50 mixture with ammonium nitrate or urea did not improve yields as compared to ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate applied alone. Lint quality was not affected by N fertility treatments.

THERMAL ANALYSIS OF MECHANOACTIVATED MIXTURES OF TUNISIA PHOSPHORITE AND AMMONIUM SULFATE

The thermal behavior of Tunisia phosphorite and ammonium sulfate mixtures are examined by non-isothermal thermogravimetry in air atmosphere. It has been shown that the thermal stability of mixtures have different behavior after mechano-chemical treatment due to phase changes in the mixtures. New solid phases are confirmed by the stages and rate of mass changes and also by the heat effects observed. New phases are also confirmed by using X-ray diffraction method. Based on the data obtained by the mechanism of chemical transformations is proposed. The kinetics of mechano-activated mixtures decomposition is significantly influenced by the time of treatment and proceeds in few stages. Stage I is attributed to the effect of partially ammonia releasing, when the next stages are associated with the decomposition of apatite structures. Because of the interfacial interactions during mechano-chemical treatment insoluble phosphorous forms from apatite structures are transformed to the soluble forms suitable for plants nutrition. The results have shown that the soluble form can be controlled by the initial components ratio and conditions of treatment on the way to obtain slow releasing nutrition products.

Optical closure for an aerosol column: Method, accuracy, and inferable properties applied to a biomass‐burning aerosol and its radiative forcing

During the Lindenberg Aerosol Characterization Experiment (LACE 98), airborne measurements of aerosol size distribution, fine‐particle concentration, particle absorption coefficient, backscatter coefficient, depolarization, and chemical composition as well as ground‐based measurements of spectral particle optical depth and of spectral backscatter and extinction coefficients were performed in the aerosol column above Lindenberg, Germany. We compare the measured optical parameters with calculations from the size distributions, which assume the aerosol to consist of sulfuric acid near the tropopause and mixtures of ammonium sulfate and soot in the remaining column. We obtain closure to within 25% for the optical depth of a column, which includes a biomass‐burning aerosol of North American origin, and infer a soot volume fraction of 35% for this aerosol. Assuming spheroidal particles of prolate shape and the average aspect ratio of the particles to be 1.3 in the biomass‐burning aerosol layer, the calculated depolarization agrees with the lidar measurement, whereas comparing the spectral backscatter coefficient shows the soot to be externally mixed with the nonabsorbing particles. With the two‐stream approximation, we estimate the local, instantaneous, cloud‐free radiative forcing of the biomass‐burning aerosol at the tropopause to −5.8 W/m2 with a corresponding optical depth of 0.09 at 710 nm wavelength and solar zenith angle of 56°. The radiative forcing for the biomass‐burning aerosol is as sensitive to a change in state of mixture, either external or internal, as to a change in surface albedo, ocean to coniferous forest.