An aerosol distribution determining system is provided. The system includes a set of pairs. Each of the pairs includes a light emitter mounted to a black object for respectively emitting electromagnetic radiation and absorbing a portion of the electromagnetic radiation. The system further includes a hyperspectral imaging camera for capturing hyperspectral images of the electromagnetic radiation in an absence of and in a presence of an aerosol distribution. The system also includes a data processing system for determining at least one of a size, a vertical density distribution, and a shape of particles in the aerosol distribution based on information derived using the hyperspectral images.