scholarly journals Light absorption properties of aerosols over Southern West Africa

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyrielle Denjean ◽  
Thierry Bourrianne ◽  
Frederic Burnet ◽  
Marc Mallet ◽  
Nicolas Maury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Anthropogenic Pollution ◽  
Absorption Properties ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Carbon Particles ◽  
Biomass Burning Aerosol ◽  
Biomass Burning Particles

Abstract. Southern West Africa (SWA) is an African pollution hotspot but a relatively poorly sampled region of the world. We present an overview of in-situ aerosol optical measurements collected over SWA in June and July 2016 as part as the DACCIWA (Dynamics–Aerosol–Chemistry–Clouds Interactions in West Africa) airborne campaign. The aircraft sampled a wide range of air masses, including anthropogenic pollution plumes emitted from the coastal cities, long-range transported biomass burning plumes from Central and Southern Africa and dust plumes from the Sahara and Sahel region, as well as mixtures of these plumes. The specific objective of this work is to characterize the regional variability of the vertical distribution of aerosol particles and their spectral optical properties (single scattering albedo: SSA, asymmetry parameter, extinction mass efficiency, scattering Ångström exponent and absorption Ångström exponent: AAE). First findings indicate that aerosol optical properties in the planetary boundary layer were dominated by a widespread and persistent biomass burning loading from the Southern Hemisphere. Despite a strong increase of aerosol number concentration in air masses downwind of urban conglomerations, spectral SSA were comparable to the background and showed signatures of the absorption characteristics of biomass burning aerosols. In the free troposphere, moderately to strongly absorbing aerosol layers, dominated by either dust or biomass burning particles, occurred occasionally. In aerosol layers dominated by mineral dust particles, SSA varied from 0.81 to 0.92 at 550 nm depending on the variable proportion of anthropogenic pollution particles externally mixed with the dust. Biomass burning aerosol particles were significantly more light absorbing than those previously measured in other areas (e.g. Amazonia, North America) with SSA ranging from 0.71 to 0.77 at 550 nm. The variability of SSA was mainly controlled by variations in aerosol composition rather than in aerosol size distribution. Correspondingly, values of AAE ranged from 0.9 to 1.1, suggesting that lens-coated black carbon particles were the dominant absorber in the visible range for these biomass burning aerosols. Comparison with literature shows a consistent picture of increasing absorption enhancement of biomass burning aerosol from emission to remote location and underscores that the evolution of SSA occurred a long time after emission. The results presented here build a fundamental basis of knowledge about the aerosol optical properties observed over SWA during the monsoon season and can be used in climate modelling studies and satellite retrievals. In particular and regarding the very high absorbing properties of biomass burning aerosols over SWA, our findings suggest that considering the effect of internal mixing on absorption properties of black carbon particles in climate models should help better assessing the direct and semi-direct radiative effects of biomass burning particles.

scholarly journals Overview of aerosol optical properties over southern West Africa from DACCIWA aircraft measurements

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 4735-4756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyrielle Denjean ◽  
Thierry Bourrianne ◽  
Frederic Burnet ◽  
Marc Mallet ◽  
Nicolas Maury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Anthropogenic Pollution ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Carbon Particles ◽  
Biomass Burning Particles

Abstract. Southern West Africa (SWA) is an African pollution hotspot but a relatively poorly sampled region of the world. We present an overview of in situ aerosol optical measurements collected over SWA in June and July 2016 as part as of the DACCIWA (Dynamics-Aerosol-Chemistry-Clouds Interactions in West Africa) airborne campaign. The aircraft sampled a wide range of air masses, including anthropogenic pollution plumes emitted from the coastal cities, long-range transported biomass burning plumes from central and southern Africa and dust plumes from the Sahara and Sahel region, as well as mixtures of these plumes. The specific objective of this work is to characterize the regional variability of the vertical distribution of aerosol particles and their spectral optical properties (single scattering albedo: SSA, asymmetry parameter, extinction mass efficiency, scattering Ångström exponent and absorption Ångström exponent: AAE). The first findings indicate that aerosol optical properties in the planetary boundary layer were dominated by a widespread and persistent biomass burning loading from the Southern Hemisphere. Despite a strong increase in aerosol number concentration in air masses downwind of urban conglomerations, spectral SSA were comparable to the background and showed signatures of the absorption characteristics of biomass burning aerosols. In the free troposphere, moderately to strongly absorbing aerosol layers, dominated by either dust or biomass burning particles, occurred occasionally. In aerosol layers dominated by mineral dust particles, SSA varied from 0.81 to 0.92 at 550 nm depending on the variable proportion of anthropogenic pollution particles externally mixed with the dust. For the layers dominated by biomass burning particles, aerosol particles were significantly more light absorbing than those previously measured in other areas (e.g. Amazonia, North America), with SSA ranging from 0.71 to 0.77 at 550 nm. The variability of SSA was mainly controlled by variations in aerosol composition rather than in aerosol size distribution. Correspondingly, values of AAE ranged from 0.9 to 1.1, suggesting that lens-coated black carbon particles were the dominant absorber in the visible range for these biomass burning aerosols. Comparison with the literature shows a consistent picture of increasing absorption enhancement of biomass burning aerosol from emission to remote location and underscores that the evolution of SSA occurred a long time after emission. The results presented here build a fundamental basis of knowledge about the aerosol optical properties observed over SWA during the monsoon season and can be used in climate modelling studies and satellite retrievals. In particular and regarding the very high absorbing properties of biomass burning aerosols over SWA, our findings suggest that considering the effect of internal mixing on absorption properties of black carbon particles in climate models should help better assess the direct and semi-direct radiative effects of biomass burning particles.

scholarly journals Variability of aerosol vertical distribution in the Sahel

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (24) ◽  
pp. 12005-12023 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Cavalieri ◽  
F. Cairo ◽  
F. Fierli ◽  
G. Di Donfrancesco ◽  
M. Snels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Aerosol Transport ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Monsoon Flow ◽  
Biomass Burning Aerosol

Abstract. In this work, we have studied the seasonal and inter-annual variability of the aerosol vertical distribution over Sahelian Africa for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008, characterizing the different kind of aerosols present in the atmosphere in terms of their optical properties observed by ground-based and satellite instruments, and their sources searched for by using trajectory analysis. This study combines data acquired by three ground-based micro lidar systems located in Banizoumbou (Niger), Cinzana (Mali) and M'Bour (Senegal) in the framework of the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA), by the AEROsol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) sun-photometers and by the space-based Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) onboard the CALIPSO satellite (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Observations). During winter, the lower levels air masses arriving in the Sahelian region come mainly from North, North-West and from the Atlantic area, while in the upper troposphere air flow generally originates from West Africa, crossing a region characterized by the presence of large biomass burning sources. The sites of Cinzana, Banizoumbou and M'Bour, along a transect of aerosol transport from East to West, are in fact under the influence of tropical biomass burning aerosol emission during the dry season, as revealed by the seasonal pattern of the aerosol optical properties, and by back-trajectory studies. Aerosol produced by biomass burning are observed mainly during the dry season and are confined in the upper layers of the atmosphere. This is particularly evident for 2006, which was characterized by a large presence of biomass burning aerosols in all the three sites. Biomass burning aerosol is also observed during spring when air masses originating from North and East Africa pass over sparse biomass burning sources, and during summer when biomass burning aerosol is transported from the southern part of the continent by the monsoon flow. During summer months, the entire Sahelian region is under the influence of Saharan dust aerosols: the air masses in low levels arrive from West Africa crossing the Sahara desert or from the Southern Hemisphere crossing the Guinea Gulf while in the upper layers air masses still originate from North, North-East. The maximum of the desert dust activity is observed in this period which is characterized by large AOD (above 0.2) and backscattering values. It also corresponds to a maximum in the extension of the aerosol vertical distribution (up to 6 km of altitude). In correspondence, a progressive cleaning up of the lowermost layers of the atmosphere is occurring, especially evident in the Banizoumbou and Cinzana sites. Summer is in fact characterized by extensive and fast convective phenomena. Lidar profiles show at times large dust events loading the atmosphere with aerosol from the ground up to 6 km of altitude. These events are characterized by large total attenuated backscattering values, and alternate with very clear profiles, sometimes separated by only a few hours, indicative of fast removal processes occurring, likely due to intense convective and rain activity. The inter-annual variability in the three year monitoring period is not very significant. An analysis of the aerosol transport pathways, aiming at detecting the main source regions, revealed that air originated from the Saharan desert is present all year long and it is observed in the lower levels of the atmosphere at the beginning and at the end of the year. In the central part of the year it extends upward and the lower levels are less affected by air masses from Saharan desert when the monsoon flow carries air from the Guinea Gulf and the Southern Hemisphere inland.

scholarly journals Optical Properties of Canadian Biomass Burning Particles Over Europe Observed with Calipso and Ground-Based Lidar Systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 237 ◽  
pp. 08016
Author(s):  
Christina-Anna Papanikolaou ◽  
Elina Giannakaki ◽  
Alex Papayannis ◽  
Maria Tombrou ◽  
Maria Mylonaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Depolarization Ratio ◽  
Backscatter Coefficient ◽  
Angstrom Exponent ◽  
Ångström Exponent ◽  
Biomass Burning Aerosol ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ground Based Lidar ◽  
Biomass Burning Particles

A long-lasting biomass burning event affected Europe from 27 August to 3 September 2018. The biomass burning aerosol layers were observed with ground- and space-based lidars in heights ranged between 2-7 km (a.s.l.). The mean backscatter coefficient for the ground-based stations ranged between 0.29 and 1.51 Mm-1sr-1, while the CALIPSO retrieved values ranged between 0.43 and 1.83 Mm-1sr-1. Moreover, the mean Ångström exponent (AEb) values, relevant to backscatter, ranged from 0.83 to 1.04 for the aforementioned lidar stations. At the same time, the mean AEb values obtained from CALIPSO ranged between 0.17 and 1.89. The mean particle depolarization ratio ranged between 0.037 and 0.080.

scholarly journals Size-resolved chemical composition, effective density, and optical properties of biomass burning particles

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinghao Zhai ◽  
Xiaohui Lu ◽  
Ling Li ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Ci Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Density Distribution ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Single Particle ◽  
Particle Mass ◽  
Effective Density ◽  
Potassium Salts ◽  
Biomass Burning Aerosol ◽  
Biomass Burning Particles

Abstract. Biomass burning aerosol has important impact on the global radiative budget. A better understanding of the mixing state and chemical composition of biomass burning particles relative to their optical properties is the goal of a number of current studies. In this work, effective density, chemical composition, and optical properties of rice straw burning particles in the size range of 50–400 nm were measured using a suite of comprehensive methods. A Differential Mobility Analyzer (DMA)-Aerosol Particle Mass analyzer (APM)-Condensation Particle Counter (CPC) system offered detailed information on the effective density as well as mixing state of size-resolved particles. The effective density and chemical composition of individual particles were characterized with a DMA in-line with a Single Particle Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (SPAMS), simultaneously. The multiple modes observed in the size-resolved particle effective density distribution indicated size-dependent external mixing of black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC) and potassium salts in particles. Particles of 50 nm had the smallest effective density (1.16 g/cm3), due to a relative large proportion of aggregate BC. The average effective densities of 100–400 nm particles ranged from 1.35–1.51 g/cm3 with OC and inorganic salts as dominant components. Both density distribution and single-particle mass spectrometry showed more complex mixing states in larger particles. Upon heating, the separation of the effective density distribution modes testified the existence of less volatile BC or soot and potassium salts. Size-resolved optical properties of biomass burning particles were measured by the Cavity Attenuated Phase Shift spectroscopy (CAPS, λ = 450 & 530 nm). The single scattering albedo (SSA) showed the lowest value for 50 nm particles (0.741 ± 0.007 & 0.889 ± 0.006) because of larger proportion of BC content. Brown carbon played an important role for the SSA of 100–400 nm particles. The Ångström absorption exponent (AAE) values for all particles were above 1.6, indicating the significant presence of brown carbon. Though freshly emitted, the light absorption enhancement (Eabs) was observed for particles larger than 200 nm. Concurrent measurements in our work provide a basis for discussing the physicochemical properties of biomass burning aerosol and its effects on global climate and atmospheric environment.

scholarly journals Size-resolved chemical composition, effective density, and optical properties of biomass burning particles

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 7481-7493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinghao Zhai ◽  
Xiaohui Lu ◽  
Ling Li ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Ci Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Density Distribution ◽  
Rice Straw ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Effective Density ◽  
Potassium Salts ◽  
Biomass Burning Aerosol ◽  
Mixing States ◽  
Biomass Burning Particles

Abstract. Biomass burning aerosol has an important impact on the global radiative budget. A better understanding of the correlations between the mixing states of biomass burning particles and their optical properties is the goal of a number of current studies. In this work, the effective density, chemical composition, and optical properties of rice straw burning particles in the size range of 50–400 nm were measured using a suite of online methods. We found that the major components of particles produced by burning rice straw included black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC), and potassium salts, but the mixing states of particles were strongly size dependent. Particles of 50 nm had the smallest effective density (1.16 g cm−3) due to a relatively large proportion of aggregate BC. The average effective densities of 100–400 nm particles ranged from 1.35 to 1.51 g cm−3 with OC and inorganic salts as dominant components. Both density distribution and single-particle mass spectrometry showed more complex mixing states in larger particles. Upon heating, the separation of the effective density distribution modes confirmed the external mixing state of less-volatile BC or soot and potassium salts. The size-resolved optical properties of biomass burning particles were investigated at two wavelengths (λ =  450 and 530 nm). The single-scattering albedo (SSA) showed the lowest value for 50 nm particles (0.741 ± 0.007 and 0.889 ± 0.006) because of the larger proportion of BC content. Brown carbon played an important role for the SSA of 100–400 nm particles. The Ångström absorption exponent (AAE) values for all particles were above 1.6, indicating the significant presence of brown carbon in all sizes. Concurrent measurements in our work provide a basis for discussing the physicochemical properties of biomass burning aerosol and its effects on the global climate and atmospheric environment.

scholarly journals Modelling the optical properties of fresh biomass burning aerosol produced in a smoke chamber: results from the EFEU campaign

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 12657-12686 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Hungershöfer ◽  
K. Zeromskiene ◽  
Y. Iinuma ◽  
G. Helas ◽  
J. Trentmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Absorption Efficiency ◽  
Max Planck ◽  
Fresh Biomass ◽  
Biomass Burning Aerosol ◽  
Smoke Chamber ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mass Absorption Efficiency

Abstract. A better characterisation of the optical properties of biomass burning aerosol as a function of the burning conditions is required in order to quantify their effects on climate and atmospheric chemistry. Controlled laboratory combustion experiments with different fuel types were carried out at the combustion facility of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (Mainz, Germany) as part of the 'Impact of Vegetation Fires on the Composition and Circulation of the Atmosphere' (EFEU) project. Using the measured size distributions as well as mass scattering and absorption efficiencies, Mie calculations provided mean effective refractive indices of 1.60−0.010i and 1.56−0.010i (λ=0.55 μm) for smoke particles emitted from the combustion of savanna grass and an African hardwood (musasa), respectively. The relatively low imaginary parts suggest that the light-absorbing carbon of the investigated fresh biomass burning aerosol is only partly graphitized, resulting in strongly scattering and less absorbing particles. While the observed variability in mass scattering efficiencies was consistent with changes in particle size, the changes in the mass absorption efficiency can only be explained, if the chemical composition of the particles varies with combustion conditions.

scholarly journals Intercomparison of biomass burning aerosol optical properties from in situ and remote-sensing instruments in ORACLES-2016

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (14) ◽  
pp. 9181-9208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Pistone ◽  
Jens Redemann ◽  
Sarah Doherty ◽  
Paquita Zuidema ◽  
Sharon Burton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Single Scattering ◽  
Single Scattering Albedo ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Biomass Burning Aerosol

Abstract. The total effect of aerosols, both directly and on cloud properties, remains the biggest source of uncertainty in anthropogenic radiative forcing on the climate. Correct characterization of intensive aerosol optical properties, particularly in conditions where absorbing aerosol is present, is a crucial factor in quantifying these effects. The southeast Atlantic Ocean (SEA), with seasonal biomass burning smoke plumes overlying and mixing with a persistent stratocumulus cloud deck, offers an excellent natural laboratory to make the observations necessary to understand the complexities of aerosol–cloud–radiation interactions. The first field deployment of the NASA ORACLES (ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS) campaign was conducted in September of 2016 out of Walvis Bay, Namibia. Data collected during ORACLES-2016 are used to derive aerosol properties from an unprecedented number of simultaneous measurement techniques over this region. Here, we present results from six of the eight independent instruments or instrument combinations, all applied to measure or retrieve aerosol absorption and single-scattering albedo. Most but not all of the biomass burning aerosol was located in the free troposphere, in relative humidities typically ranging up to 60 %. We present the single-scattering albedo (SSA), absorbing and total aerosol optical depth (AAOD and AOD), and absorption, scattering, and extinction Ångström exponents (AAE, SAE, and EAE, respectively) for specific case studies looking at near-coincident and near-colocated measurements from multiple instruments, and SSAs for the broader campaign average over the month-long deployment. For the case studies, we find that SSA agrees within the measurement uncertainties between multiple instruments, though, over all cases, there is no strong correlation between values reported by one instrument and another. We also find that agreement between the instruments is more robust at higher aerosol loading (AOD400>0.4). The campaign-wide average and range shows differences in the values measured by each instrument. We find the ORACLES-2016 campaign-average SSA at 500 nm (SSA500) to be between 0.85 and 0.88, depending on the instrument considered (4STAR, AirMSPI, or in situ measurements), with the interquartile ranges for all instruments between 0.83 and 0.89. This is consistent with previous September values reported over the region (between 0.84 and 0.90 for SSA at 550nm). The results suggest that the differences observed in the campaign-average values may be dominated by instrument-specific spatial sampling differences and the natural physical variability in aerosol conditions over the SEA, rather than fundamental methodological differences.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document