Term: log-normal distribution https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.L03614 Definition: A distribution function F(y), in which the logarithm of a quantity is normally distributed, i.e. F(y)=fgauss(ln y) where fgauss(x) is a Gaussian distribution. The size distributions of atmospheric aerosols are often described using this distribution function, although the term also applies to gaseous pollutants. Source: PAC, 1990, 62, 2167. 'Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990)' on page 2199 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199062112167) Citation: 'log-normal distribution' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.L03614 License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms. Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.