We developed a method for characterizing atmospheric properties from ground-based, spectral measurements of direct and scattered solar radiation under clear sky conditions. A compact spectroradiometer is employed for radiation measurement in the wavelength range between 350 and 1050 nm with a resolution of 10 nm. Spectral matching of measured and simulated spectra yields a set of optical parameters that describe optical characteristics of tropospheric aerosols. We utilize the radiative transfer code MODTRAN4 for constructing realistic atmospheric models. Details of the system calibration, analysis procedure, and the results of its performance test are described.