The ability of ambient atmospheric particles and gasses to scatter and absorb light depends on their size, shape, composition, concentration and distribution. A simple model allows the observer visual range to be estimated by dividing a constant by the extinction coefficient. The magnitude of the constant depends on the units used and assumptions concerning the minimum contrast detectable by the observer. Optical - The ability of the atmosphere to scatter or absorb light passing through it. The physical properties of the atmosphere are described by extinction, scattering and absorption coefficients plus an angular dependence of the scattering known as the normalized phase function.
Optical characteristics integrate the effects of atmospheric aerosols and gasses.
Scene - The appearance of a scene viewed through the atmosphere. Scene characteristics are more nearly in line with the simple definition of visibility than aerosol or optical characteristics. Scene characteristics include observer visual range, scene contrast, color, texture, clarity, and other descriptive terms. Scene characteristics change with illumination and atmospheric composition. Aerosol and optical characteristics depend only on the properties of the atmosphere through which light passes.