scholarly journals Measurement-based climatology of aerosol direct radiative effect, its sensitivities, and uncertainties from a background southeast US site

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 4131-4152 ◽  
Author(s):  
James P. Sherman ◽  
Allison McComiskey
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Surface Reflectance ◽  
Radiative Effect ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Diurnal Variability ◽  
Clear Sky ◽  
Aerosol Loading ◽  
Measurement Uncertainties ◽  
Southeast Us ◽  
Seasonal Dependence

Abstract. Aerosol optical properties measured at Appalachian State University's co-located NASA AERONET and NOAA ESRL aerosol network monitoring sites over a nearly four-year period (June 2012–Feb 2016) are used, along with satellite-based surface reflectance measurements, to study the seasonal variability of diurnally averaged clear sky aerosol direct radiative effect (DRE) and radiative efficiency (RE) at the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) and at the surface. Aerosol chemistry and loading at the Appalachian State site are likely representative of the background southeast US (SE US), home to high summertime aerosol loading and one of only a few regions not to have warmed during the 20th century. This study is the first multi-year ground truth DRE study in the SE US, using aerosol network data products that are often used to validate satellite-based aerosol retrievals. The study is also the first in the SE US to quantify DRE uncertainties and sensitivities to aerosol optical properties and surface reflectance, including their seasonal dependence.Median DRE for the study period is −2.9 W m−2 at the TOA and −6.1 W m−2 at the surface. Monthly median and monthly mean DRE at the TOA (surface) are −1 to −2 W m−2 (−2 to −3 W m−2) during winter months and −5 to −6 W m−2 (−10 W m−2) during summer months. The DRE cycles follow the annual cycle of aerosol optical depth (AOD), which is 9 to 10 times larger in summer than in winter. Aerosol RE is anti-correlated with DRE, with winter values 1.5 to 2 times more negative than summer values. Due to the large seasonal dependence of aerosol DRE and RE, we quantify the sensitivity of DRE to aerosol optical properties and surface reflectance, using a calendar day representative of each season (21 December for winter; 21 March for spring, 21 June for summer, and 21 September for fall). We use these sensitivities along with measurement uncertainties of aerosol optical properties and surface reflectance to calculate DRE uncertainties. We also estimate uncertainty in calculated diurnally-averaged DRE due to diurnal aerosol variability. Aerosol DRE at both the TOA and surface is most sensitive to changes in AOD, followed by single-scattering albedo (ω0). One exception is under the high summertime aerosol loading conditions (AOD  ≥  0.15 at 550 nm), when sensitivity of TOA DRE to ω0 is comparable to that of AOD. Aerosol DRE is less sensitive to changes in scattering asymmetry parameter (g) and surface reflectance (R). While DRE sensitivity to AOD varies by only ∼ 25 to 30 % with season, DRE sensitivity to ω0, g, and R largely follow the annual AOD cycle at APP, varying by factors of 8 to 15 with season. Since the measurement uncertainties of AOD, ω0, g, and R are comparable at Appalachian State, their relative contributions to DRE uncertainty are largely influenced by their (seasonally dependent) DRE sensitivity values, which suggests that the seasonal dependence of DRE uncertainty must be accounted for. Clear sky aerosol DRE uncertainty at the TOA (surface) due to measurement uncertainties ranges from 0.45 (0.75 W m−2) for December to 1.1 (1.6 W m−2) for June. Expressed as a fraction of DRE computed using monthly median aerosol optical properties and surface reflectance, the DRE uncertainties at TOA (surface) are 20 to 24 % (15 to 22 %) for March, June, and September and 49 (50 %) for DEC. The relatively low DRE uncertainties are largely due to the low uncertainty in AOD measured by AERONET. Use of satellite-based AOD measurements by MODIS in the DRE calculations increases DRE uncertainties by a factor of 2 to 5 and DRE uncertainties are dominated by AOD uncertainty for all seasons. Diurnal variability in AOD (and to a lesser extent g) contributes to uncertainties in DRE calculated using daily-averaged aerosol optical properties that are slightly larger (by ∼ 20 to 30 %) than DRE uncertainties due to measurement uncertainties during summer and fall, with comparable uncertainties during winter and spring.

scholarly journals Measurement-based climatology of aerosol direct radiative effect, its sensitivities, and uncertainties from a background southeast U.S. site

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
James P. Sherman ◽  
Allison McComiskey
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Ground Truth ◽  
Single Scattering ◽  
Surface Reflectance ◽  
Radiative Effect ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Clear Sky ◽  
Aerosol Loading ◽  
Measurement Uncertainties ◽  
Seasonal Dependence

Abstract. Aerosol optical properties measured at Appalachian State University's co-located NASA AERONET and NOAA ESRL aerosol network monitoring sites over a nearly four-year period (June 2012 thru February 2016) are used, along with satellite-based surface reflectance measurements, to study the seasonal variability of diurnally averaged clear sky aerosol direct radiative effect (DRE) and radiative efficiency (RE) at the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) and at the surface. Aerosol chemistry and loading at the Appalachian State site are likely representative of the background southeast U.S. (SE U.S.), home to high summertime aerosol loading and one of only a few regions not to have warmed during the 20th century. This study is the first multi-year ground truth DRE study in the SE U.S., using aerosol network data products that are often used to validate satellite-based aerosol retrievals. The study is also the first in the SE U.S. to quantify DRE uncertainties and sensitivities to aerosol optical properties and surface reflectance, including their seasonal dependence. Median DRE for the study period is −2.9 W m−2 at the TOA and −6.1 Wm−2 at the surface. Monthly median and monthly mean DRE at the TOA (surface) are −1 to −2 W m−2 (−2 to −3 W m−2) during winter months and −5 to −6 W m−2 (−10 W m−2) during summer months. The DRE cycles follow the annual cycle of aerosol optical depth (AOD), which is 9 to 10 times larger in summer than in winter. Aerosol RE is anti-correlated with DRE, with winter values 1.5 to 2 times more negative than summer values. Due to the large seasonal dependence of aerosol DRE and RE, we quantify the sensitivity of DRE to aerosol optical properties and surface reflectance, using a calendar day representative of each season (21 December for winter; 21 March for spring, 21 June for summer, and 21 September for fall). We use these sensitivities along with measurement uncertainties of aerosol optical properties and surface reflectance to calculate DRE uncertainties. Aerosol DRE at both the TOA and surface is most sensitive to changes in AOD, followed (in order) by single-scattering albedo (ω0), scattering asymmetry parameter (g), and surface reflectance (R). One exception is under the high summertime aerosol loading conditions, when sensitivity of TOA DRE to ω0 is comparable to that of AOD. While DRE sensitivity to AOD varies by only ~ 25 to 30 % with season, DRE sensitivity to ω0, g, and R vary by factors of 10 to 20 with season. Since the measurement uncertainties of AOD, ω0, g, and R are comparable at Appalachian State, their relative contributions to DRE uncertainty are roughly proportional to their (seasonally dependent) DRE sensitivity values, which suggests that the seasonal dependence of DRE uncertainty must be accounted for. Clear sky aerosol DRE uncertainty at the TOA (surface) ranges from 0.44 W m−2 (0.73 W m−2) for December to 0.90 W m−2 (1.3 W m−2) for June. Expressed as a fraction of DRE computed using monthly median aerosol optical properties and surface reflectance, the DRE uncertainties at TOA (surface) are 16 to 20 % (12 to 20 %) for March, June, and September and 48 % (49 %) for December. The relatively low DRE uncertainties are largely due to the low uncertainty in AOD measured by AERONET. Use of satellite-based AOD measurements by MODIS in the DRE calculations increases DRE uncertainties by a factor of 2.5 to 5 and DRE uncertainties are dominated by AOD uncertainty for all seasons.

scholarly journals Regional and monthly and clear-sky aerosol direct radiative effect (and forcing) derived from the GlobAEROSOL-AATSR satellite aerosol product

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 393-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E. Thomas ◽  
N. Chalmers ◽  
B. Harris ◽  
R. G. Grainger ◽  
E. J. Highwood
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Radiative Effect ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Clear Sky ◽  
Aerosol Loading ◽  
Uncertainty Estimates ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Aerosol Radiative ◽  
Radiation Scheme

Abstract. Using the GlobAEROSOL-AATSR dataset, estimates of the instantaneous, clear-sky, direct aerosol radiative effect and radiative forcing have been produced for the year 2006. Aerosol Robotic Network sun-photometer measurements have been used to characterise the random and systematic error in the GlobAEROSOL product for 22 regions covering the globe. Representative aerosol properties for each region were derived from the results of a wide range of literature sources and, along with the de-biased GlobAEROSOL AODs, were used to drive an offline version of the Met Office unified model radiation scheme. In addition to the mean AOD, best-estimate run of the radiation scheme, a range of additional calculations were done to propagate uncertainty estimates in the AOD, optical properties, surface albedo and errors due to the temporal and spatial averaging of the AOD fields. This analysis produced monthly, regional estimates of the clear-sky aerosol radiative effect and its uncertainty, which were combined to produce annual, global mean values of (−6.7 ± 3.9) W m−2 at the top of atmosphere (TOA) and (−12 ± 6) W m−2 at the surface. These results were then used to give estimates of regional, clear-sky aerosol direct radiative forcing, using modelled pre-industrial AOD fields for the year 1750 calculated for the AEROCOM PRE experiment. However, as it was not possible to quantify the uncertainty in the pre-industrial aerosol loading, these figures can only be taken as indicative and their uncertainties as lower bounds on the likely errors. Although the uncertainty on aerosol radiative effect presented here is considerably larger than most previous estimates, the explicit inclusion of the major sources of error in the calculations suggest that they are closer to the true constraint on this figure from similar methodologies, and point to the need for more, improved estimates of both global aerosol loading and aerosol optical properties.

scholarly journals Regional and monthly and clear-sky aerosol direct radiative effect (and forcing) derived from the GlobAEROSOL-AATSR satellite aerosol product

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 18459-18497 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E. Thomas ◽  
N. Chalmers ◽  
B. Harris ◽  
R. G. Grainger ◽  
E. J. Highwood
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Radiative Effect ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Clear Sky ◽  
Aerosol Loading ◽  
Uncertainty Estimates ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Aerosol Radiative ◽  
Radiation Scheme

Abstract. Using the GlobAEROSOL-AATSR dataset, estimates of the instantaneous, clear-sky, direct aerosol radiative effect and radiative forcing have been produced for the year 2006. Aerosol Robotic Network sun-photometer measurements have been used to characterise the random and systematic error in the GlobAEROSOL product for 22 regions covering the globe. Representative aerosol properties for each region have been derived from the results of a wide range of literature sources and, along with the de-biased GlobAEROSOL AODs, were used to drive an offline version of the Met Office unified model radiation scheme. In addition to the mean AOD, best-estimate run of the radiation scheme, a range of additional calculations were done to propagate uncertainty estimates in the AOD, optical properties, surface albedo and errors due to the temporal and spatial averaging of the AOD fields. This analysis produced monthly, regional estimates of the clear-sky aerosol radiative effect and its uncertainty, which produce annual, global mean values of (−6.7 ± 3.9) W m−2 at the top of atmosphere (TOA) and (−12 ± 6) W m−2 at the surface. These results were then used to produce estimates of regional, clear-sky aerosol direct radiative forcing, using modelled pre-industrial AOD fields for 1750 calculated for the AEROCOM PRE experiment. However, as it was not possible to quantify the uncertainty in the pre-industrial aerosol loading, these figures can only be taken as indicative and their uncertainties as lower bounds on the likely errors. Although the uncertainty on aerosol radiative effect presented here is considerably larger than most previous estimates, the explicit inclusion of the major sources of error in the calculations suggest that they are closer to the true constraint on this figure from similar methodologies, and point to the need for more, improved estimates of both global aerosol loading and aerosol optical properties.

scholarly journals Effects of aerosols on clear-sky solar radiation in the ALADIN-HIRLAM NWP system

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 5933-5948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Gleeson ◽  
Velle Toll ◽  
Kristian Pagh Nielsen ◽  
Laura Rontu ◽  
Ján Mašek
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Numerical Weather Prediction ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Radiative Effect ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Numerical Weather ◽  
Clear Sky ◽  
Radiation Scheme

Abstract. The direct shortwave radiative effect of aerosols under clear-sky conditions in the Aire Limitee Adaptation dynamique Developpement InterNational – High Resolution Limited Area Model (ALADIN-HIRLAM) numerical weather prediction system was investigated using three shortwave radiation schemes in diagnostic single-column experiments: the Integrated Forecast System (IFS), acraneb2 and the hlradia radiation schemes. The multi-band IFS scheme was formerly used operationally by the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) whereas hlradia and acraneb2 are broadband schemes. The former is a new version of the HIRLAM radiation scheme while acraneb2 is the radiation scheme in the ALARO-1 physics package. The aim was to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the numerical weather prediction (NWP) system regarding aerosols and to prepare it for use of real-time aerosol information. The experiments were run with particular focus on the August 2010 Russian wildfire case. Each of the three radiation schemes accurately (within ±4 % at midday) simulates the direct shortwave aerosol effect when observed aerosol optical properties are used. When the aerosols were excluded from the simulations, errors of more than +15 % in global shortwave irradiance were found at midday, with the error reduced to +10 % when standard climatological aerosols were used. An error of −11 % was seen at midday if only observed aerosol optical depths at 550 nm, and not observation-based spectral dependence of aerosol optical depth, single scattering albedos and asymmetry factors, were included in the simulations. This demonstrates the importance of using the correct aerosol optical properties. The dependency of the direct radiative effect of aerosols on relative humidity was tested and shown to be within ±6 % in this case. By modifying the assumptions about the shape of the IFS climatological vertical aerosol profile, the inherent uncertainties associated with assuming fixed vertical profiles were investigated. The shortwave heating rates in the boundary layer changed by up to a factor of 2 in response to the aerosol vertical distribution without changing the total aerosol optical depth. Finally, we tested the radiative transfer approximations used in the three radiation schemes for typical aerosol optical properties compared to the accurate DISORT model. These approximations are found to be accurate to within ±13 % even for large aerosol loads.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the MERIS aerosol product over land with AERONET

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 3721-3759 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Vidot ◽  
R. Santer ◽  
O. Aznay
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Surface Reflectance ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Simple Criterion ◽  
Imaging Spectrometer ◽  
Inherent Optical Properties ◽  
Look Up Table ◽  
Medium Resolution ◽  
Reflectance Model ◽  
Resolution Imaging

Abstract. The Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) launched in February 2002 on-board the ENVISAT spacecraft is making global observations of top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiances. Aerosol optical properties are retrieved over land using Look-Up Table (LUT) based algorithm and surface reflectances in the blue and the red spectral regions. We compared instantaneous aerosol optical thicknesses retrieved by MERIS in the blue and the red at locations containing sites within the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET). Between 2002 and 2005, a set of 500 MERIS images were used in this study. The result shows that, over land, MERIS aerosol optical thicknesses are well retrieved in the blue and poorly retrieved in the red, leading to an underestimation of the Angstrom coefficient. Correlations are improved by applying a simple criterion to avoid scenes probably contaminated by thin clouds. To investigate the weakness of the MERIS algorithm, ground-based radiometer measurements have been used in order to retrieve new aerosol models, based on their Inherent Optical Properties (IOP). These new aerosol models slightly improve the correlation, but the main problem of the MERIS aerosol product over land can be attributed to the surface reflectance model in the red.

scholarly journals MACv2-SP: a parameterization of anthropogenic aerosol optical properties and an associated Twomey effect for use in CMIP6

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 433-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjorn Stevens ◽  
Stephanie Fiedler ◽  
Stefan Kinne ◽  
Karsten Peters ◽  
Sebastian Rast ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Industrial Emissions ◽  
Max Planck ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosol ◽  
Aerosol Radiative Forcing ◽  
Clear Sky ◽  
Aerosol Forcing ◽  
Aerosol Radiative

Abstract. A simple plume implementation of the second version (v2) of the Max Planck Institute Aerosol Climatology, MACv2-SP, is described. MACv2-SP provides a prescription of anthropogenic aerosol optical properties and an associated Twomey effect. It was created to provide a harmonized description of post-1850 anthropogenic aerosol radiative forcing for climate modeling studies. MACv2-SP has been designed to be easy to implement, change and use, and thereby enable studies exploring the climatic effects of different patterns of aerosol radiative forcing, including a Twomey effect. MACv2-SP is formulated in terms of nine spatial plumes associated with different major anthropogenic source regions. The shape of the plumes is fit to the Max Planck Institute Aerosol Climatology, version 2, whose present-day (2005) distribution is anchored by surface-based observations. Two types of plumes are considered: one predominantly associated with biomass burning, the other with industrial emissions. These differ in the prescription of their annual cycle and in their optical properties, thereby implicitly accounting for different contributions of absorbing aerosol to the different plumes. A Twomey effect for each plume is prescribed as a change in the host model's background cloud-droplet population density using relationships derived from satellite data. Year-to-year variations in the amplitude of the plumes over the historical period (1850–2016) are derived by scaling the plumes with associated national emission sources of SO2 and NH3. Experiments using MACv2-SP are performed with the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model. The globally and annually averaged instantaneous and effective aerosol radiative forcings are estimated to be −0.6 and −0.5 W m−2, respectively. Forcing from aerosol–cloud interactions (the Twomey effect) offsets the reduction of clear-sky forcing by clouds, so that the net effect of clouds on the aerosol forcing is small; hence, the clear-sky forcing, which is more readily measurable, provides a good estimate of the total aerosol forcing.

scholarly journals Aerosol optical properties and radiative forcing in the high Himalaya based on measurements at the Nepal Climate Observatory – pyramid site (5100 m a.s.l)

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 5627-5663 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Marcq ◽  
P. Laj ◽  
J. C. Roger ◽  
P. Villani ◽  
K. Sellegri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Atmospheric Layer ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Diurnal Variability ◽  
Regional Pollution ◽  
Pollution Events

Abstract. Intense anthropogenic emissions over the Indian sub-continent lead to the formation of layers of particulate pollution that can be transported to the high altitude regions of the Himalaya-Hindu-Kush (HKH). Aerosol particles contain a substantial fraction of strongly absorbing material, including black carbon (BC), organic compounds (OC), and dust all of which can contribute to atmospheric warming, in addition to greenhouse gases. Using a 3-year record of continuous measurements of aerosol optical properties, we present a time series of key climate relevant aerosol properties including the aerosol absorption (σap) and scattering (σsp) coefficients as well as the single-scattering albedo (w). Results of this investigation show substantial seasonal variability of these properties, with long range transport during the pre- and post-monsoon seasons and efficient precipitation scavenging of aerosol particles during the monsoon season. The monthly averaged scattering coefficients range from 0.1 Mm−1 (monsoon) to 20 Mm−1 while the average absorption coefficients range from 0.5 Mm−1 to 3.5 Mm−1. Both have their maximum values during the pre-monsoon period (April) and reach a minimum during Monsoon (July–August). This leads to w values from 0.86 (pre-monsoon) to 0.79 (monsoon) seasons. Significant diurnal variability due to valley wind circulation is also reported. Using typical air mass trajectories encountered at the station, and aerosol optical depth (aod) measurements, we calculated the resulting direct local radiative forcing due to aerosols. We found that the presence of absorbing particulate material can locally induce an additional top of the atmosphere (TOA) forcing of 10 to 20 W m−2 for the first atmospheric layer (500 m above surface). The TOA positive forcing depends on the presence of snow at the surface, and takes place preferentially during episodes of regional pollution occurring on a very regular basis in the Himalayan valleys. Warming of the first atmospheric layer is paralleled by a substantial decrease of the amount of radiation reaching the surface. The surface forcing is estimated to range from −4 to −20 W m−2 for small-scale regional pollution events and large-scale pollution events, respectively. The calculated surface forcing is also very dependent on surface albedo, with maximum values occurring over a snow-covered surface. Overall, this work presents the first estimates of aerosol direct radiative forcing over the high Himalaya based on in-situ aerosol measurements, and results suggest a TOA forcing significantly greater than the IPCC reported values for green house gases.

scholarly journals A simple parameterization of the short-wave aerosol optical properties for surface direct and diffuse irradiances assessment in a numerical weather model

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 593-629
Author(s):  
J. A. Ruiz-Arias ◽  
J. Dudhia
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Control Experiment ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Single Scattering ◽  
Short Wave ◽  
Asymmetry Factor ◽  
Band Model ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Numerical Weather ◽  
Clear Sky

Abstract. Broadband short-wave (SW) surface direct and diffuse irradiances are not typically within the set of output variables produced by numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. However, they are being more and more demanded in solar energy applications. A detailed representation of the aerosol optical properties is important to achieve an accurate assessment of these direct and diffuse irradiances. Nonetheless, NWP models typically oversimplify its representation or even neglect its effect. In this work, a flexible method to account for the SW aerosol optical properties in the computation of broadband SW surface direct and diffuse irradiances is presented. It only requires aerosol optical depth at 0.55 μm and the type of predominant aerosol. The rest of parameters needed to consider spectral aerosol extinction, namely, Angström exponent, aerosol single-scattering albedo and aerosol asymmetry factor, are parameterized. The parameterization has been tested in the RRTMG SW scheme of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) NWP model. However, it can be adapted to any other SW radiative transfer band model. It has been verified against a control experiment along five radiometric stations in the contiguous US. The control experiment consisted of a clear-sky evaluation of the RRTMG solar radiation estimates obtained in WRF when RRTMG is driven with ground-observed aerosol optical properties. Overall, the verification has shown very satisfactory results for both broadband SW surface direct and diffuse irradiances. It has proven effective to significantly reduce the prediction error and constraint the seasonal bias in clear-sky conditions to within the typical observational error in well-maintained radiometers.

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