scholarly journals Supplementary material to "Spatiotemporal variability and contribution of different aerosol types to the Aerosol Optical Depth over the Eastern Mediterranean"

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aristeidis K. Georgoulias ◽  
Georgia Alexandri ◽  
Konstantinos A. Kourtidis ◽  
Jos Lelieveld ◽  
Prodromos Zanis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Spatiotemporal Variability ◽  
Supplementary Material ◽  
Aerosol Types

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal variability and contribution of different aerosol types to the aerosol optical depth over the Eastern Mediterranean

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (21) ◽  
pp. 13853-13884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aristeidis K. Georgoulias ◽  
Georgia Alexandri ◽  
Konstantinos A. Kourtidis ◽  
Jos Lelieveld ◽  
Prodromos Zanis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Spatiotemporal Variability ◽  
Marine Aerosols ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosols ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Fine Mode ◽  
Natural Aerosols ◽  
Aerosol Types

Abstract. This study characterizes the spatiotemporal variability and relative contribution of different types of aerosols to the aerosol optical depth (AOD) over the Eastern Mediterranean as derived from MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) Terra (March 2000–December 2012) and Aqua (July 2002–December 2012) satellite instruments. For this purpose, a 0.1° × 0.1° gridded MODIS dataset was compiled and validated against sun photometric observations from the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET). The high spatial resolution and long temporal coverage of the dataset allows for the determination of local hot spots like megacities, medium-sized cities, industrial zones and power plant complexes, seasonal variabilities and decadal averages. The average AOD at 550 nm (AOD550) for the entire region is ∼ 0.22 ± 0.19, with maximum values in summer and seasonal variabilities that can be attributed to precipitation, photochemical production of secondary organic aerosols, transport of pollution and smoke from biomass burning in central and eastern Europe and transport of dust from the Sahara and the Middle East. The MODIS data were analyzed together with data from other satellite sensors, reanalysis projects and a chemistry–aerosol-transport model using an optimized algorithm tailored for the region and capable of estimating the contribution of different aerosol types to the total AOD550. The spatial and temporal variability of anthropogenic, dust and fine-mode natural aerosols over land and anthropogenic, dust and marine aerosols over the sea is examined. The relative contribution of the different aerosol types to the total AOD550 exhibits a low/high seasonal variability over land/sea areas, respectively. Overall, anthropogenic aerosols, dust and fine-mode natural aerosols account for ∼ 51, ∼ 34 and ∼ 15 % of the total AOD550 over land, while, anthropogenic aerosols, dust and marine aerosols account ∼ 40, ∼ 34 and ∼ 26 % of the total AOD550 over the sea, based on MODIS Terra and Aqua observations.

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal variability and contribution of different aerosol types to the Aerosol Optical Depth over the Eastern Mediterranean

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aristeidis K. Georgoulias ◽  
Georgia Alexandri ◽  
Konstantinos A. Kourtidis ◽  
Jos Lelieveld ◽  
Prodromos Zanis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Spatiotemporal Variability ◽  
Marine Aerosols ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosols ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Fine Mode ◽  
Natural Aerosols ◽  
Aerosol Types

Abstract. This study characterizes the spatiotemporal variability and relative contribution of different types of aerosols to the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) over the Eastern Mediterranean as derived from MODIS Terra (3/2000–12/2012) and Aqua (7/2002–12/2012) satellite instruments. For this purpose, a 0.1°×0.1° gridded MODIS dataset was compiled and validated against AERONET sunphotometric observations. The high spatial resolution and long temporal coverage of the dataset allows for the determination of local hot spots like megacities, medium sized cities, industrial zones, and power plant complexes, seasonal variabilities, and decadal averages. The average AOD at 550 nm (AOD550) for the entire region is ~ 0.22 ± 0.19 with maximum values in summer and seasonal variabilities that can be attributed to precipitation, photochemical production of secondary organic aerosols, transport of pollution and smoke from biomass burning in Central and Eastern Europe, and transport of dust from the Sahara Desert and the Middle East. The MODIS data were analyzed together with data from other satellite sensors, reanalysis projects and a chemistry-aerosol-transport model using an optimized algorithm tailored for the region and capable of estimating the contribution of different aerosol types to the total AOD550. The spatial and temporal variability of anthropogenic, dust and fine mode natural aerosols over land and anthropogenic, dust and marine aerosols over the sea is examined. The relative contribution of the different aerosol types to the total AOD550 exhibits a low/high seasonal variability over land/oceanic areas, respectively. Overall, anthropogenic aerosols, dust and fine mode natural aerosols account for ~ 51 %, ~ 34 % and ~ 15 % of the total AOD550 over land, while, anthropogenic aerosols, dust and marine aerosols account ~ 40 %, ~ 34 % and ~ 26 % of the total AOD550 over the sea, based on MODIS Terra and Aqua observations.

scholarly journals The potential of elastic and polarization lidars to retrieve extinction profiles

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 893-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elina Giannakaki ◽  
Panos Kokkalis ◽  
Eleni Marinou ◽  
Nikolaos S. Bartsotas ◽  
Vassilis Amiridis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Depolarization Ratio ◽  
Lidar System ◽  
Lidar Measurements ◽  
Lidar Ratio ◽  
Linear Depolarization Ratio ◽  
Aerosol Types ◽  
532 Nm

Abstract. A new method, called ElEx (elastic extinction), is proposed for the estimation of extinction coefficient lidar profiles using only the information provided by the elastic and polarization channels of a lidar system. The method is applicable to lidar measurements both during daytime and nighttime under well-defined aerosol mixtures. ElEx uses the particle backscatter profiles at 532 nm and the vertically resolved particle linear depolarization ratio measurements at the same wavelength. The particle linear depolarization ratio and the lidar ratio values of pure aerosol types are also taken from literature. The total extinction profile is then estimated and compared well with Raman retrievals. In this study, ElEx was applied in an aerosol mixture of marine and dust particles at Finokalia station during the CHARADMExp campaign. Any difference between ElEx and Raman extinction profiles indicates that the nondust component could be probably attributed to polluted marine or polluted continental aerosols. Comparison with sun photometer aerosol optical depth observations is performed as well during daytime. Differences in the total aerosol optical depth are varying between 1.2 % and 72 %, and these differences are attributed to the limited ability of the lidar to correctly represent the aerosol optical properties in the near range due to the overlap problem.

scholarly journals Understanding the aerosol information content in multi-spectral reflectance measurements using a synergetic retrieval algorithm

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 1589-1598 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Martynenko ◽  
T. Holzer-Popp ◽  
H. Elbern ◽  
M. Schroedter-Homscheidt
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Information Content ◽  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Surface Albedo ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Aerosol Types ◽  
Reflectance Measurements

Abstract. An information content analysis for multi-wavelength SYNergetic AErosol Retrieval algorithm SYNAER was performed to quantify the number of independent pieces of information that can be retrieved. In particular, the capability of SYNAER to discern various aerosol types is assessed. This information content depends on the aerosol optical depth, the surface albedo spectrum and the observation geometry. The theoretical analysis is performed for a large number of scenarios with various geometries and surface albedo spectra for ocean, soil and vegetation. When the surface albedo spectrum and its accuracy is known under cloud-free conditions, reflectance measurements used in SYNAER is able to provide for 2–4° of freedom that can be attributed to retrieval parameters: aerosol optical depth, aerosol type and surface albedo. The focus of this work is placed on an information content analysis with emphasis to the aerosol type classification. This analysis is applied to synthetic reflectance measurements for 40 predefined aerosol mixtures of different basic components, given by sea salt, mineral dust, biomass burning and diesel aerosols, water soluble and water insoluble aerosols. The range of aerosol parameters considered through the 40 mixtures covers the natural variability of tropospheric aerosols. After the information content analysis performed in Holzer-Popp et al. (2008) there was a necessity to compare derived degrees of freedom with retrieved aerosol optical depth for different aerosol types, which is the main focus of this paper. The principle component analysis was used to determine the correspondence between degrees of freedom for signal in the retrieval and derived aerosol types. The main results of the analysis indicate correspondence between the major groups of the aerosol types, which are: water soluble aerosol, soot, mineral dust and sea salt and degrees of freedom in the algorithm and show the ability of the SYNAER to discern between this aerosol types. The results of the work will be further used for the development of the promising methodology of the construction error covariance matrices in the assimilation system.

scholarly journals Three-year ground based measurements of Aerosol Optical Depth over the Eastern Mediterranean: the urban environment of Athens

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 28273-28309
Author(s):  
E. Gerasopoulos ◽  
V. Amiridis ◽  
S. Kazadzis ◽  
P. Kokkalis ◽  
K. Eleftheratos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Environment ◽  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
North Coast ◽  
Synoptic Situation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
The Balkans

Abstract. Three years (2006–2008) of ground-based observations of the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) in the urban environment of Athens, in the Eastern Mediterranean, are analysed in this work. Measurements were acquired with a Multi-Filter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer at five wavelengths. The daily average AOD at 500 nm is 0.23, and the mean Ångström coefficient calculated between 415 and 867 nm is 1.41. The annual variability of AOD has a spring maximum dominated by coarse dust particles from the Sahara (AOD 0.34–0.42), while the diurnal pattern is typical for urban sites, with AOD steadily increasing throughout the day. Secondary contributors of high aerosol loadings over Athens are identified, namely the Istanbul metropolitan area, the extended areas of biomass burning around the north coast of the Black Sea, power plants spread throughout the Balkans and the industrial area in the Po valley, with average daily AOD in the range of 0.25–0.35. The geographical distribution of the above sources in conjunction with the prevailing synoptic situation and contribution of local sources, lead to mixed types of aerosols over Athens with highly variable contribution of fine and coarse particles to AOD in the range 10%–90%. This is the first long-term, ground based data set available for Athens, and has also been used for the validation of satellite derived AOD by MODIS, showing good agreement on an annual basis, but with an overestimation of satellite AODs in the warm period.

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