Diurnal variability of dust aerosol optical thickness and Angström exponent over dust source regions in China

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Wang
2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 5325-5388 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Yoon ◽  
W. von Hoyningen-Huene ◽  
A. A. Kokhanovsky ◽  
M. Vountas ◽  
J. P. Burrows

Abstract. Regular aerosol observations based on well-calibrated instruments have led to a better understanding of the aerosol radiative budget on Earth. In recent years, these instruments have played an important role in the determination of the increase of anthropogenic aerosols by means of long-term studies. Only few investigations regarding long-term trends of aerosol optical characteristics (e.g. Aerosol Optical Thickness (AOT) and Ångström Exponent (ÅE)) have been derived from ground-based observations. This paper aims to derive and discuss linear trends of AOT (440, 675, 870, and 1020 nm) and ÅE (440–870 nm) using AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) spectral observations. Additionally, temporal trends of Coarse- and Fine-mode dominant AOTs (CAOT and FAOT) have been estimated by applying an aerosol classification based on accurate ÅE and Ångström Exponent Difference (ÅED). In order to take into account the fact that cloud disturbance is having a significant influence on the trend analysis of aerosols, we introduce a weighted least squares regression depending on two weights: (1) monthly standard deviation and (2) Number of Observations (NO) per month. Temporal increase of FAOTs prevails over regions dominated by emerging economy or slash-burn agriculture in East Asia and South Africa. On the other hand, insignificant or negative trends for FAOTs are detected over Western Europe and North America. Over desert regions, both increase and decrease of CAOTs are observed depending on meteorological conditions.


2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 12781-12805 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Wagner ◽  
A. M. Silva

Abstract. A simulation study has been performed in order to show the influence of the aerosol optical thickness (AOT) distribution together with the corresponding error distribution on the resulting Ångström exponent (AE) distribution. It will be shown that the Ångström exponent frequency of occurrence distribution is only normal distributed when the relative error at the two wavelengths used for estimation of the Ångström exponent is the same. In all other cases a shift of the maximum of the AE-distribution will occur. It will be demonstrated that the Ångström exponent (or the maximum of an AE distribution) will be systematically over- or underestimated depending on whether the relative error of the shorter wavelength is larger or smaller compared with the relative error of the longer wavelength. In such cases the AE distribution are also skewed.


2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.-J. Roelofs ◽  
V. Kamphuis

Abstract. With a cloud parcel model we investigate how cloud processing and cloud evaporation modify the size distribution and the Angström exponent of an aerosol population. Our study provides a new explanation for the observed variability of the aerosol optical thickness and Angström exponent in the vicinity of clouds. Cloud processing causes a decrease of aerosol particle concentrations, relatively most efficiently in the coarse mode, and reduces the relative dispersion of the aerosol distribution. As a result the Angström exponent of the aerosol increases. The Angström exponent is very sensitive for changes in relative humidity during cloud evaporation, especially between 90% and 100%. In addition, kinetic limitations delay evaporation of relatively large cloud drops, especially in clean and mildly polluted environments where the coarse mode fraction is relatively large. This hampers a direct relation between the aerosol optical thickness, the Angström exponent and the ambient relative humidity, which may severely complicate interpretation of these parameters in terms of aerosol properties, such as the fine mode fraction.


2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 7619-7640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.-C. Chen ◽  
B. Hamre ◽  
Ø Frette ◽  
J. J. Stamnes

Abstract. We present comparisons between estimates of the aerosol optical thickness and the Ångström exponent in Northern Norway and Svalbard based on data from AERONET stations at Andenes (69° N, 16° E, 379 m altitude) and Hornsund (77° N, 15° E, 10 m altitude) for the period 2008–2010. The three-year annual mean values for the aerosol optical thickness at 500 nm τ(500) at Andenes and Hornsund were 0.11 and 0.10, respectively. At Hornsund, there was less variation of the monthly mean value of τ(500) than at Andenes. The annual mean values of the Ångström exponent α at Andenes and Hornsund were 1.18 and 1.37, respectively. At Andenes and Hornsund α was found to be larger than 1.0 in 68% and 93% of the observations, respectively, indicating that fine-mode particles were dominating at both sites. Both sites had a similar seasonal variation of the aerosol size distribution although one site is in an Arctic area while the other site is in a sub-arctic area.


2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 1271-1299 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Yoon ◽  
W. von Hoyningen-Huene ◽  
A. A. Kokhanovsky ◽  
M. Vountas ◽  
J. P. Burrows

Abstract. Regular aerosol observations based on well-calibrated instruments have led to a better understanding of the aerosol radiative budget on Earth. In recent years, these instruments have played an important role in the determination of the increase of anthropogenic aerosols by means of long-term studies. Only few investigations regarding long-term trends of aerosol optical characteristics (e.g. aerosol optical thickness (AOT) and Ångström exponent (ÅE)) have been derived from ground-based observations. This paper aims to derive and discuss linear trends of AOT (440, 675, 870, and 1020 nm) and ÅE (440–870 nm) using AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) level 2.0 spectral observations. Additionally, temporal trends of coarse- and fine-mode dominant AOTs (CdAOT and FdAOT) have been estimated by applying an aerosol classification based on accurate ÅE and Ångström exponent difference (ÅED). In order to take into account the fact that cloud disturbance is having a significant influence on the trend analysis of aerosols, we introduce a weighted least squares regression depending on two weights: (1) monthly standard deviation (σt) and (2) number of observations per month (nt). Temporal increase of FdAOTs (440 nm) prevails over newly industrializing countries in East Asia (weighted trends; +6.23% yr−1 at Beijing) and active agricultural burning regions in South Africa (+1.89% yr−1 at Mongu). On the other hand, insignificant or negative trends for FdAOTs are detected over Western Europe (+0.25% yr−1 at Avignon and −2.29% yr−1 at Ispra) and North America (−0.52% yr−1 for GSFC and −0.01% yr−1 at MD_Science_Center). Over desert regions, both increase and decrease of CdAOTs (+3.37% yr−1 at Solar_Village and −1.18% yr−1 at Ouagadougou) are observed depending on meteorological conditions.


2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 10761-10795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.-C. Chen ◽  
B. Hamre ◽  
Ø. Frette ◽  
S. Blindheim ◽  
K. Stebel ◽  
...  

Abstract. We present comparisons between estimates of the aerosol optical thickness and the Ångström exponent in Northern Norway and Svalbard based on data from AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) stations at Andenes (69.28° N, 16.01° E, 379 m altitude) and Hornsund (77.00° N, 15.56° E, 10 m altitude) for the period 2008–2011. The four-year annual mean values for the aerosol optical thickness at 500 nm τ(500) at Andenes and Hornsund both were 0.10. At Hornsund, there was less variation of the monthly mean value of τ(500) than at Andenes. The annual mean values of the Ångström exponent α at Andenes and Hornsund were 1.25 and 1.37, respectively. At Andenes and Hornsund α was found to be larger than 1.1 in 64% and 86% of the observations, respectively, indicating that fine-mode particles were dominating at both sites. Both sites had a similar seasonal variation of the aerosol size distribution although one site is in an arctic area while the other site is in a sub-arctic area.


2016 ◽  
Vol 121 (12) ◽  
pp. 7139-7160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingfeng Huang ◽  
Shobha Kondragunta ◽  
Istvan Laszlo ◽  
Hongqing Liu ◽  
Lorraine A. Remer ◽  
...  

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