scholarly journals Changes and Predictions of Vertical Distributions of Global Light-Absorbing Aerosols Based on CALIPSO Observation

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 3014
Author(s):  
Zigeng Song ◽  
Xianqiang He ◽  
Yan Bai ◽  
Difeng Wang ◽  
Zengzhou Hao ◽  
...  

Knowledge of the vertical distribution of absorbing aerosols is crucial for radiative forcing assessment, and its quasi real-time prediction is one of the keys for the atmospheric correction of satellite remote sensing. In this study, we investigated the seasonal and interannual changes of the vertical distribution of global absorbing aerosols based on satellite measurement from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) and proposed a neural network (NN) model to predict the vertical distribution of global absorbing aerosols. Gaussian fitting was proposed to derive the maximum fitted particle number concentration (MFNC), altitude corresponding to MFNC (MFA), and standard deviation (MFASD) for vertical distribution of dust and smoke aerosols. Results showed that higher MFA values of dust and smoke aerosols mainly occurred over deserts and tropical savannas, respectively. For dust aerosol, the MFA is mainly observed at 0.5 to 6 km above deserts, and low MFNC values occur in boreal spring and winter while high values in summer and autumn. The MFA of smoke is systematically lower than that of dust, ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 km over tropical rainforest and grassland. Moreover, we found that the MFA of global dust and smoke had decreased by 2.7 m yr−1 (statistical significance p = 0.02) and 1.7 m yr−1 (p = 0.02) over 2007–2016, respectively. The MFNC of global dust has increased by 0.63 cm−3 yr−1 (p = 0.05), whereas that of smoke has decreased by 0.12 cm−3 yr−1 (p = 0.05). In addition, the determination coefficient (R2) of the established prediction models for vertical distributions of absorbing aerosols were larger than 0.76 with root mean square error (RMSE) less than 1.42 cm−3, which should be helpful for the radiative forcing evaluation and atmospheric correction of satellite remote sensing.

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 3713-3724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianning Su ◽  
Zhanqing Li ◽  
Chengcai Li ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Wenchao Han ◽  
...  

Abstract. The aerosol–planetary boundary layer (PBL) interaction was proposed as an important mechanism to stabilize the atmosphere and exacerbate surface air pollution. Despite the tremendous progress made in understanding this process, its magnitude and significance still have large uncertainties and vary largely with aerosol distribution and meteorological conditions. In this study, we focus on the role of aerosol vertical distribution in thermodynamic stability and PBL development by jointly using micropulse lidar, sun photometer, and radiosonde measurements taken in Beijing. Despite the complexity of aerosol vertical distributions, cloud-free aerosol structures can be largely classified into three types: well-mixed, decreasing with height, and inverse structures. The aerosol–PBL relationship and diurnal cycles of the PBL height and PM2.5 associated with these different aerosol vertical structures show distinct characteristics. The vertical distribution of aerosol radiative forcing differs drastically among the three types, with strong heating in the lower, middle, and upper PBL, respectively. Such a discrepancy in the heating rate affects the atmospheric buoyancy and stability differently in the three distinct aerosol structures. Absorbing aerosols have a weaker effect of stabilizing the lower atmosphere under the decreasing structure than under the inverse structure. As a result, the aerosol–PBL interaction can be strengthened by the inverse aerosol structure and can be potentially neutralized by the decreasing structure. Moreover, aerosols can both enhance and suppress PBL stability, leading to both positive and negative feedback loops. This study attempts to improve our understanding of the aerosol–PBL interaction, showing the importance of the observational constraint of aerosol vertical distribution for simulating this interaction and consequent feedbacks.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscila Lange ◽  
Robert Brewin ◽  
Giorgio Dall’Olmo ◽  
Glen Tarran ◽  
Shubha Sathyendranath ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franco Marenco ◽  
Claire Ryder ◽  
Victor Estelles ◽  
Debbie O'Sullivan

<p>The main observable quantity used on a global scale to map aerosols is aerosol optical depth (AOD), from ground-based and satellite remote sensing. It is at the same time an optical property and a vertically integrated quantity, and it is commonly used as the main metric towards which to pull aerosol models, through data assimilation, verification, and tuning. Here we introduce a few reflections on how to better constrain our knowledge of the Saharan Air Layer and its associated mineral dust, following results from the AER-D campaign.</p><p>AER-D was a small field experiment in the Eastern Atlantic during August 2015, based on the opportunity given by the simultaneous ICE-D experiment. The purpose of AER-D was to investigate the physical properties of the Saharan Air Layer, and to assess and validate remote sensing and modelling products. The FAAM atmospheric research aircraft was used as a flying laboratory, and it carried a full set of instruments aimed at both in-situ sampling and remote sensing.</p><p>A broad distribution of particle sizes was consistently observed, with a significant giant mode up to 80 µm, generally larger than what was observed in previous experiments: we ascribe this to the set of instruments used, able to capture the full spectrum. We will discuss the representation of the particle size in operational models, and we will show that despite predicting an extinction coefficient of the correct order of magnitude, the particle size is generally underestimated. We will also discuss the implication of the giant particles for the ground-based remote sensing of columnar size-distributions from the SKYNET and AERONET networks (Sunphotometer Airborne Validation Experiment, which was a component of AER-D).</p><p>We will present the vertical structure of the Saharan Air Layer, and in particular one episode when the structure was very different than the one generally accepted in the conceptual model. Moreover, the comparison with the operational models showed that they can predict a correct aerosol optical depth (AOD, a vertically integrated quantity) despite missing the vertical distribution.</p><p>These findings lead to a series of reflections on how to better constrain our knowledge of the Saharan Air Layer and its representation in operational models. Size-resolved properties and the vertical distribution are essential companions of the global AOD observations commonly used operationally. We will also discuss objectives and ideas for future field experiments.</p>


Author(s):  
A. M. Aghedo ◽  
K. W. Bowman ◽  
H. M. Worden ◽  
S. S. Kulawik ◽  
D. T. Shindell ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 955-959 ◽  
pp. 3581-3585
Author(s):  
Xiao Tong Wu ◽  
Ya Ting Dai ◽  
Yu Qin Shao ◽  
Jia Yin Lu ◽  
Miao Miao Hou

The study investigated the vertical distribution of soil microorganism on Caragana rhizosphere at Hobq of ORDOS. The result showed that microbial vertical distribution was obvious. The order of vertical distribution in number of aerobic bacteria were 0-10cm>20-30cm>10-20cm>30-40cm, and there were significant differences between microorganisms in 0-10cm, 10-20cm and 30-40cm underground; the number of aerobic bacteria in 0-10cm underground was higher than 10-20cm, 20-30cm and 30-40cm by 1.48,1.41 and 1.86. The order of vertical distribution in number of fungi were 0-10cm>10-20cm>20-30cm>30-40cm, and there were significant differences between 0-10 cm and 20-30cm、30-40cm, and between 10-20 cm and 20-30cm、30-40cm. the number of fungi in 0-10cm underground was higher than 10-20cm, 20-30cm and 30-40cm by 1.01, 3.60 and 5.37. The order of vertical distribution in number of Actinomycetes was 0-10cm>10-20cm>20-30cm>30-40cm, and the differences between 0-10 cm and 10-20cm, 20-30cm, 30-40cm were significant; the number of Actinomycetes in 0-10cm underground was higher than 10-20cm, 20-30cm and 30-40cm by 1.54,1.66 and 2.60. The distribution and quantity of soil microorganisms might be influenced by organic matter contents.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 577-595
Author(s):  
Lena Frey ◽  
Frida A.-M. Bender ◽  
Gunilla Svensson

Abstract. The vertical distribution of aerosols plays an important role in determining the effective radiative forcing from aerosol–radiation and aerosol–cloud interactions. Here, a number of processes controlling the vertical distribution of aerosol in five subtropical marine stratocumulus regions in the climate model NorESM1-M are investigated, with a focus on the total aerosol extinction. A comparison with satellite lidar data (CALIOP, Cloud–Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization) shows that the model underestimates aerosol extinction throughout the troposphere, especially elevated aerosol layers in the two regions where they are seen in observations. It is found that the shape of the vertical aerosol distribution is largely determined by the aerosol emission and removal processes in the model, primarily through the injection height, emitted particle size, and wet scavenging. In addition, the representation of vertical transport related to shallow convection and entrainment is found to be important, whereas alterations in aerosol optical properties and cloud microphysics parameterizations have smaller effects on the vertical aerosol extinction distribution. However, none of the alterations made are sufficient for reproducing the observed vertical distribution of aerosol extinction, neither in magnitude nor in shape. Interpolating the vertical levels of CALIOP to the corresponding model levels leads to better agreement in the boundary layer and highlights the importance of the vertical resolution.


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