The long-term spatial and temporal distribution of aerosol optical depth and its associated atmospheric circulation over Southeast Africa

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthews Nyasulu ◽  
Md. Mozammel Haque ◽  
Bathsheba Musonda ◽  
Cao Fang
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Distribution

scholarly journals Aerosol optical depth retrievals at the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory from 1941 to 2013 by using artificial neural networks

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. García ◽  
O. E. García ◽  
E. Cuevas ◽  
V. E. Cachorro ◽  
A. Barreto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Time Series ◽  
Artificial Neural Networks ◽  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Mineral Dust ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Filter Radiometer ◽  
Artificial Neural

Abstract. This paper presents the reconstruction of a 73-year time series of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 500 nm at the subtropical high-mountain Izaña Atmospheric Observatory (IZO) located in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). For this purpose, we have combined AOD estimates from artificial neural networks (ANNs) from 1941 to 2001 and AOD measurements directly obtained with a Precision Filter Radiometer (PFR) between 2003 and 2013. The analysis is limited to summer months (July–August–September), when the largest aerosol load is observed at IZO (Saharan mineral dust particles). The ANN AOD time series has been comprehensively validated against coincident AOD measurements performed with a solar spectrometer Mark-I (1984–2009) and AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) CIMEL photometers (2004–2009) at IZO, obtaining a rather good agreement on a daily basis: Pearson coefficient, R, of 0.97 between AERONET and ANN AOD, and 0.93 between Mark-I and ANN AOD estimates. In addition, we have analysed the long-term consistency between ANN AOD time series and long-term meteorological records identifying Saharan mineral dust events at IZO (synoptical observations and local wind records). Both analyses provide consistent results, with correlations  >  85 %. Therefore, we can conclude that the reconstructed AOD time series captures well the AOD variations and dust-laden Saharan air mass outbreaks on short-term and long-term timescales and, thus, it is suitable to be used in climate analysis.

scholarly journals Nine years of UV aerosol optical depth measurements at Thessaloniki, Greece

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 2091-2101 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kazadzis ◽  
A. Bais ◽  
V. Amiridis ◽  
D. Balis ◽  
C. Meleti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Back Trajectories ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring Stations ◽  
Pm 10 ◽  
The City

Abstract. Spectral measurements of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) and the Ångström coefficient were conducted at Thessaloniki, Greece (40.5° N, 22.9° E) between January 1997 and December 2005 with a Brewer MKIII double-monochromator spectroradiometer. The dataset was compared with collocated measurements of a second spectroradiometer (Brewer MKII) and a CIMEL sun-photometer, showing correlations of 0.93 and 0.98, respectively. A seasonal variation of the AOD was observed at Thessaloniki, with AOD values at 340 nm of 0.52 and 0.28 for August and December respectively. Back trajectories of air masses for up to 4 days were used to assess the influence of long-range transport from various regions to the aerosol load over Thessaloniki. It is shown that part of the observed seasonality can be attributed to air masses with high AOD originating from North-Eastern and Eastern directions during summertime. The analysis of the long-term record (9 years) of AOD showed a downward tendency. A similar decreasing tendency was found in the record of the PM$_{10}$ aerosol measurements, which are conducted near the surface at 4 air-quality monitoring stations in the area of the city of Thessaloniki.

Long-term (1995–2018) aerosol optical depth derived using ground based AERONET and SKYNET measurements from aerosol aged-background sites

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 608-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shantikumar S. Ningombam ◽  
E.J.L. Larson ◽  
U.C. Dumka ◽  
Victor Estellés ◽  
M. Campanelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth

The Long Term Spatial-temporal Distribution of Aerosol Optical Depth and Its Associated Atmospheric Circulation Over Southeast Africa.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthews Nyasulu ◽  
Md. Mozammel Haque ◽  
Bathsheba Musonda ◽  
Cao Fang
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
Atmospheric Aerosols ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Western Coast ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosols ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosol

Abstract Recent studies have revealed significant impacts of increased concentration of anthropogenic aerosols in the atmosphere to both climate and human health. Southeast Africa is one of the regions where studies related to atmospheric aerosols remain scant, causing high uncertainty in predicting and understanding the impacts of these aerosols to both climate and human health. The present study therefore has investigated the long term spatial-temporal distribution of atmospheric aerosols, trends, its relationship with cloud properties and the associated atmospheric circulation over the region. High concentration of aerosol has been detected during the dry months of September to November (SON) while low during March to May (MAM) and June-July (JJA) seasons in most areas. Highest 550 was recorded in areas with low elevation such as over Lake Malawi, Zambezi valley and along the western coast of the Indian Ocean. The average of the detected concentration is however low as compared to highly polluted regions of the globe. Statistical analyses revealed insignificant change of AOD550 in most areas between 2002 and 2020 time period. The study has also revealed seasonality of aerosol distribution highly influenced by changes in atmospheric circulation. Burning of biomass during dry months such bush fires and burning of crop residues remain the major source of anthropogenic aerosol concentration over Southeast Africa hence needs to be controlled.

Retrieval and Validation of Long-Term Aerosol Optical Depth from AVHRR Over China Mainland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunlin Jin ◽  
Yong Xue ◽  
Xingxing Jiang ◽  
Rui Bai ◽  
Yuxin Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
China Mainland

scholarly journals Aerosol optical depth retrievals in central Amazonia from a multi-filter rotating shadow-band radiometer calibrated on-site

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 921-934
Author(s):  
Nilton E. Rosário ◽  
Thamara Sauini ◽  
Theotonio Pauliquevis ◽  
Henrique M. J. Barbosa ◽  
Marcia A. Yamasoe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Spectral Response ◽  
Monitoring Site ◽  
Direct Normal Irradiance ◽  
Central Amazonia ◽  
Long Term Monitoring ◽  
Term Monitoring ◽  
Band Radiometer

Abstract. Extraterrestrial spectral response calibration of a multi-filter rotating shadow band radiometer (MFRSR) under pristine Amazonian Forest atmosphere conditions was performed using the Langley plot method. The MFRSR is installed in central Amazonia as part of a long-term monitoring site, which was used in the context of the GoAmazon2014/5 experiment. It has been operating continuously since 2011 without regular extraterrestrial calibration, preventing its application to accurate monitoring of aerosol particles. Once calibrated, the MFRSR measurements were applied to retrieve aerosol particle columnar optical properties, specifically aerosol optical depth (AODλ) and Ångström exponent (AE), which were evaluated against retrievals from a collocated Cimel Sun photometer belonging to the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET). Results obtained revealed that pristine Amazonian conditions are able to provide MFRSR extraterrestrial spectral response with relative uncertainty lower than 1.0 % in visible channels. The worst estimate (air mass =1) for absolute uncertainty in AODλ retrieval varied from ≈0.02 to ≈0.03, depending on the assumption regarding uncertainty for MFRSR direct normal irradiance measured at the surface. The obtained root mean square error (RMSE ≈0.025) from the evaluation of MFRSR retrievals against AERONET AODλ was, in general, lower than estimated MFRSR AODλ uncertainty, and close to the uncertainty of AERONET field Sun photometers (≈0.02).

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