scholarly journals The vertical distribution of aerosols, Saharan dust and cirrus clouds at Rome (Italy) in the year 2001

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 5755-5775 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Gobbi ◽  
F. Barnaba
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Tropospheric Aerosol ◽  
Yearly Average ◽  
Seasonal Analysis ◽  
The Vertical Distribution ◽  
532 Nm ◽  
Good Agreement

Abstract. A set of 813 lidar profiles of tropospheric aerosol and cirrus clouds extinction and depolarization observed at Rome, Italy, between February 2001 and February 2002 is analyzed and discussed. The yearly record reveals a meaningful contribution of both cirrus clouds (38%) and Saharan dust (12%) to the total optical thickness (OT) of 0.26, at 532 nm. Seasonal analysis shows the planetary boundary layer (PBL) aerosols to be confined below 2 km in winter and 3.8 km in summer, with relevant OT shifting from 0.08 to 0.16, respectively. Cirrus clouds maximize in spring and autumn, in both cases with average OT similar to the PBL aerosols one. With the exception of winter months, Saharan dust is found to represent an important third layer mostly residing between PBL aerosols and cirrus clouds, with yearly average OT~0.03. Saharan dust and cirrus clouds were detected in 20% and in 45% of the observational days, respectively. Validation of the lidar OT retrievals against collocated sunphotometer observations show very good agreement. These results represent one of the few yearly records of tropospheric aerosol vertical profiles available in the literature.

scholarly journals The vertical distribution of aerosols, Saharan dust and cirrus clouds in Rome (Italy) in the year 2001

2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Gobbi ◽  
F. Barnaba ◽  
L. Ammannato
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Cirrus Clouds ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Tropospheric Aerosol ◽  
Yearly Average ◽  
Seasonal Analysis ◽  
The Vertical Distribution ◽  
Good Agreement

Abstract. A set of 813 lidar profiles of tropospheric aerosol and cirrus clouds extinction and depolarization observed in Rome, Italy, between February 2001 and February 2002 is analyzed and discussed. The yearly record reveals a meaningful contribution of both cirrus clouds (38%) and Saharan dust (12%) to the total optical thickness (OT) of 0.26, at 532nm. Seasonal analysis shows the planetary boundary layer (PBL) aerosols to be confined below 2km in winter and 3.8km in summer, with relevant OT shifting from 0.08 to 0.16, respectively. Cirrus clouds maximise in spring and autumn, in both cases with average OT similar to the PBL aerosols one. With the exception of winter months, Saharan dust is found to represent an important third layer mostly residing between PBL aerosols and cirrus clouds, with yearly average OT0.03. Saharan dust and cirrus clouds were detected in 20% and in 45% of the observational days, respectively. Validation of the lidar OT retrievals against collocated sunphotometer observations show very good agreement. These results represent one of the few yearly records of tropospheric aerosol vertical profiles available in the literature.

scholarly journals Tropospheric BrO column densities in the Arctic derived from satellite: retrieval and comparison to ground-based measurements

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. 2779-2807 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Sihler ◽  
U. Platt ◽  
S. Beirle ◽  
T. Marbach ◽  
S. Kühl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Natural Phenomenon ◽  
Satellite Measurements ◽  
Surface Layers ◽  
Vertical Column ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
The Vertical Distribution ◽  
Good Agreement

Abstract. During polar spring, halogen radicals like bromine monoxide (BrO) play an important role in the chemistry of tropospheric ozone destruction. Satellite measurements of the BrO distribution have become a particularly useful tool to investigate this probably natural phenomenon, but the separation of stratospheric and tropospheric partial columns of BrO is challenging. In this study, an algorithm was developed to retrieve tropospheric vertical column densities of BrO from data of high-resolution spectroscopic satellite instruments such as the second Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME-2). Unlike recently published approaches, the presented algorithm is capable of separating the fraction of BrO in the activated troposphere from the total BrO column solely based on remotely measured properties. The presented algorithm furthermore allows to estimate a realistic measurement error of the tropospheric BrO column. The sensitivity of each satellite pixel to BrO in the boundary layer is quantified using the measured UV radiance and the column density of the oxygen collision complex O4. A comparison of the sensitivities with CALIPSO LIDAR observations demonstrates that clouds shielding near-surface trace-gas columns can be reliably detected even over ice and snow. Retrieved tropospheric BrO columns are then compared to ground-based BrO measurements from two Arctic field campaigns in the Amundsen Gulf and at Barrow in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Our algorithm was found to be capable of retrieving enhanced near-surface BrO during both campaigns in good agreement with ground-based data. Some differences between ground-based and satellite measurements observed at Barrow can be explained by both elevated and shallow surface layers of BrO. The observations strongly suggest that surface release processes are the dominating source of BrO and that boundary layer meteorology influences the vertical distribution.

scholarly journals Inter-comparison of lidar and ceilometer retrievals for aerosol and Planetary Boundary Layer profiling over Athens, Greece

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Tsaknakis ◽  
A. Papayannis ◽  
P. Kokkalis ◽  
V. Amiridis ◽  
H. D. Kambezidis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Planetary Boundary Layer ◽  
Layer Structure ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Radiosonde Data ◽  
Backscatter Coefficient ◽  
Lidar System ◽  
Height Range ◽  
Tropospheric Aerosol ◽  
Filter Radiometer

Abstract. This study presents an inter-comparison of two active remote sensors (lidar and ceilometer) in determining the structure of the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) and in retrieving tropospheric aerosol vertical profiles over Athens, Greece. This inter-comparison was performed under various strongly different aerosol concentrations (urban air pollution, biomass burning and Saharan dust event), implementing two different lidar systems (one portable Raymetrics S.A. lidar system running at 355 nm and one multi-wavelength Raman lidar system running at 355 nm, 532 nm and 1064 nm) and one CL31 Vaisala S.A. ceilometer (running at 910 nm). To convert the ceilometer data to data having the same wavelengths as those from the lidar, the backscatter-related Ångström exponent was estimated using ultraviolet multi-filter radiometer (UV-MFR) data. The inter-comparison was based on two parameters: the mixing layer structure and height determined by the presence of the suspended aerosols and the aerosol backscatter coefficient. Additionally, radiosonde data were used to derive the PBL height. In general a good agreement is found between the ceilometer and the lidar techniques in both inter-compared parameters in the height range from 500 m to 5000 m, while the limitations of each instrument are also examined.

scholarly journals Assessment of aerosol's mass concentrations from measured linear particle depolarization ratio (vertically resolved) and simulations

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 5923-5957
Author(s):  
A. Nemuc ◽  
J. Vasilescu ◽  
C. Talianu ◽  
L. Belegante ◽  
D. Nicolae
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Model ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Depolarization Ratio ◽  
Backscatter Coefficient ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Model ◽  
Lidar Measurements ◽  
Different Origins ◽  
532 Nm ◽  
Good Agreement ◽  
Mass Concentrations

Abstract. Multiwavelength depolarization Raman lidar measurements from Magurele, Romania are used in this study along with simulated mass-extinction efficiencies to calculate the mass concentrations profiles of different atmospheric components, due to their different depolarization contribution to the 532 nm backscatter coefficient. Linear particle depolarization ratio (δpart) was computed using the relative amplification factor and the system-dependent molecular depolarization. The low depolarizing component was considered as urban/smoke, with a mean δpart of 3%, while for the high depolarizing component (mineral dust) a mean δpart of 35% was assumed. For this study 11 months of lidar measurements were analyzed. Two study cases are presented in details: one for a typical Saharan dust aerosol intrusion, 10 June 2012 and one for 12 July 2012 when a lofted layer consisting of biomass burning smoke extended from 3 to 4.5 km height. Optical Properties of Aerosols and Clouds software package (OPAC) classification and conversion factors were used to calculate mass concentrations. We found that calibrated depolarization measurements are critical to distinguish between smoke-reach aerosol during the winter and dust-reach aerosol during the summer, as well as between elevated aerosol layers having different origins. Good agreement was found between lidar retrievals and DREAM- Dust REgional Atmospheric Model forecasts in cases of Saharan dust. Our method was also compared against LIRIC (The Lidar/Radiometer Inversion Code) and very small differences were observed.

scholarly journals Tropospheric BrO column densities in the Arctic from satellite: retrieval and comparison to ground-based measurements

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 3199-3270 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Sihler ◽  
U. Platt ◽  
S. Beirle ◽  
T. Marbach ◽  
S. Kühl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Natural Phenomenon ◽  
Satellite Measurements ◽  
Surface Layers ◽  
Vertical Column ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
The Vertical Distribution ◽  
Good Agreement

Abstract. During polar spring, halogen radicals like bromine monoxide (BrO) play an important role in the chemistry of tropospheric ozone destruction. Satellite measurements of the BrO-distribution have become a particularly useful tool to investigate this probably natural phenomenon, but the separation of stratospheric and tropospheric partial columns of BrO is challenging. In this study, an algorithm was developed to retrieve tropospheric vertical column densities of BrO from data of high-resolution spectroscopic satellite instruments such as the second Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME-2). Unlike recently published approaches, the presented algorithm is capable of separating the fraction of BrO in the activated troposphere from the total BrO column solely based on remotely measured properties. The sensitivity of each satellite pixel to BrO in the boundary-layer is quantified using the measured UV-radiance and the column density of the oxygen collision complex O4. A comparison of the sensitivities with CALIPSO LIDAR observations demonstrates that clouds shielding near-surface trace-gas columns can be reliably detected even over ice and snow. Retrieved tropospheric BrO columns are then compared to ground-based BrO measurements from two Arctic field campaigns in the Amundsen Gulf and at Barrow in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Our algorithm was found to be capable of retrieving enhanced near-surface BrO during both campaigns in good agreement to ground-based data. Some differences between ground-based and satellite measurements observed at Barrow can be explained by both, elevated and shallow surface layers of BrO. The observations strongly suggest that surface release processes are the dominating source of BrO and that boundary-layer meteorology influences the vertical distribution.

Theoretical validation of ground-based microwave ozone observations

1994 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 664-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Ricaud ◽  
G. Brasseur ◽  
J. Brillet ◽  
J. de La Noë ◽  
J.-P. Parisot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ozone Concentration ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Temperature Fields ◽  
Microwave Measurements ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Yearly Average ◽  
Large Maximum ◽  
Seasonal Analysis ◽  
2D Model ◽  
Good Agreement

Abstract. Ground-based microwave measurements of the diurnal and seasonal variations of ozoneat 42±4.5 and 55±8 km are validated by comparing with results from a zero-dimensional photochemical model and a two-dimensional (2D) chemical/radiative/dynamical model, respectively. O3 diurnal amplitudes measured in Bordeaux are shown to be in agreement with theory to within 5%. For the seasonal analysis of O3 variation, at 42±4.5 km, the 2D model underestimates the yearly averaged ozone concentration compared with the measurements. A double maximum oscillation (~3.5%) is measured in Bordeaux with an extended maximum in September and a maximum in February, whilst the 2D model predicts only a single large maximum (17%) in August and a pronounced minimum in January. Evidence suggests that dynamical transport causes the winter O3 maximum by propagation of planetary waves, phenomena which are not explicitly reproduced by the 2D model. At 55±8 km, the modeled yearly averaged O3 concentration is in very good agreement with the measured yearly average. A strong annual oscillation is both measured and modeled with differences in the amplitude shown to be exclusively linked to temperature fields.

scholarly journals Airborne DOAS limb measurements of tropospheric trace gas profiles: case studies on the profile retrieval of O<sub>4</sub> and BrO

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 1241-1260 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Prados-Roman ◽  
A. Butz ◽  
T. Deutschmann ◽  
M. Dorf ◽  
L. Kritten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Vertical Profile ◽  
Trace Gases ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Cloud Particle ◽  
Upper Troposphere ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Tropospheric Aerosol

Abstract. A novel limb scanning mini-DOAS spectrometer for the detection of UV/vis absorbing radicals (e.g., O3, BrO, IO, HONO) was deployed on the DLR-Falcon (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) aircraft and tested during the ASTAR 2007 campaign (Arctic Study of Tropospheric Aerosol, Clouds and Radiation) that took place at Svalbard (78° N) in spring 2007. Our main objectives during this campaign were to test the instrument, and to perform spectral and profile retrievals of tropospheric trace gases, with particular interest on investigating the distribution of halogen compounds (e.g., BrO) during the so-called ozone depletion events (ODEs). In the present work, a new method for the retrieval of vertical profiles of tropospheric trace gases from tropospheric DOAS limb observations is presented. Major challenges arise from modeling the radiative transfer in an aerosol and cloud particle loaded atmosphere, and from overcoming the lack of a priori knowledge of the targeted trace gas vertical distribution (e.g., unknown tropospheric BrO vertical distribution). Here, those challenges are tackled by a mathematical inversion of tropospheric trace gas profiles using a regularization approach constrained by a retrieved vertical profile of the aerosols extinction coefficient EM. The validity and limitations of the algorithm are tested with in situ measured EM, and with an absorber of known vertical profile (O4). The method is then used for retrieving vertical profiles of tropospheric BrO. Results indicate that, for aircraft ascent/descent observations, the limit for the BrO detection is roughly 1.5 pptv (pmol mol−1), and the BrO profiles inferred from the boundary layer up to the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere have around 10 degrees of freedom. For the ASTAR 2007 deployments during ODEs, the retrieved BrO vertical profiles consistently indicate high BrO mixing ratios (∼15 pptv) within the boundary layer, low BrO mixing ratios (&amp;leq;1.5 pptv) in the free troposphere, occasionally enhanced BrO mixing ratios (∼1.5 pptv) in the upper troposphere, and increasing BrO mixing ratios with altitude in the lowermost stratosphere. These findings agree reasonably well with satellite and balloon-borne soundings of total and partial BrO atmospheric column densities.

scholarly journals Retrieval of tropospheric aerosol, NO<sub>2</sub> and HCHO vertical profiles from MAX-DOAS observations over Thessaloniki, Greece

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitris Karagkiozidis ◽  
Martina Michaela Friedrich ◽  
Steffen Beirle ◽  
Alkiviadis Bais ◽  
François Hendrick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Estimation Method ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Scaling Factor ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
Systematic Bias ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Ancillary Data ◽  
Tropospheric Aerosol ◽  
Good Agreement

Abstract. In this study we focus on the retrieval of aerosol and trace gas vertical profiles from Multi-Axis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) observations for the first time over Thessaloniki, Greece. We use two independent inversion algorithms for the profile retrievals: The Mexican MAX-DOAS Fit (MMF) and the Mainz Profile Algorithm (MAPA). The former is based on the Optimal Estimation Method (OEM), while the latter follows a parameterization approach. We evaluate the performance of MMF and MAPA and we validate their retrieved products with ancillary data measured by other co-located reference instruments. We find an excellent agreement between the tropospheric column densities of NO2 retrieved by MMF and MAPA (Slope = 1.009, Pearson's correlation coefficient R = 0.982) and a good correlation for the case of HCHO (R = 0.927). For aerosols, we find better agreement for the aerosol optical depths (AODs) in the visible (i.e., at 477 nm), compared to the UV (360 nm) and we show that the agreement strongly depends on the O4 scaling factor that is used in the analysis. The trace gas differential slant column densities (dSCDs), simulated by the forward models, are also in good agreement, except for HCHO, where larger scatter is observed due to the increased spectral noise of the measurements in the UV. The agreement for NO2 and HCHO surface concentrations is similar to the comparison of the integrated columns with slightly decreased correlation coefficients. The AODs retrieved by the MAX-DOAS are validated by comparing them with AOD values measured by a CIMEL sun-photometer and a Brewer spectrophotometer. Four different flagging schemes were applied to the data in order to evaluate their performance. Qualitatively, a generally good agreement is observed for both wavelengths, but we find a systematic bias from the CIMEL and Brewer measurements, due to the limited sensitivity of the MAX-DOAS in retrieving information at higher altitudes, especially in the UV. An in-depth validation of the aerosol vertical profiles retrieved by the MAX-DOAS is not possible since only in very few cases the true aerosol profile is known during the period of study. However, we examine four cases, where the MAX-DOAS provided a generally good estimation of the shape of the profiles retrieved by a co-located multi-wavelength lidar system. The NO2 surface concentrations are validated against in situ observations and the comparison of both MMF and MAPA revealed good agreement with correlation coefficients of R = 0.78 and R = 0.73, respectively. Finally, the effect of the O4 scaling factor is investigated by intercomparing the integrated columns retrieved by the two algorithms and also by comparing the AODs derived by MAPA for different values of the scaling factor with AODs measured by the CIMEL and the Brewer.

scholarly journals Airborne DOAS limb measurements of tropospheric trace gas profiles: case study on the profile retrieval of O<sub>4</sub> and BrO

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 3925-3969 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Prados-Roman ◽  
A. Butz ◽  
T. Deutschmann ◽  
M. Dorf ◽  
L. Kritten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Vertical Profile ◽  
Trace Gases ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Cloud Particle ◽  
Upper Troposphere ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Tropospheric Aerosol

Abstract. A novel limb scanning mini-DOAS spectrometer for the detection of UV/vis absorbing radicals (e.g., O3, BrO, IO, HONO) was deployed on the DLR-Falcon (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) aircraft and tested during the ASTAR 2007 campaign (Arctic Study of Tropospheric Aerosol, Clouds and Radiation) that took place at Svalbard (78° N) in spring 2007. Our main objectives during this campaign were to test the instrument, and to perform spectral and profile retrievals of tropospheric trace gases, with particular interest on investigating the distribution of halogen compounds (e.g., BrO) during the so-called ozone depletion events (ODEs). In the present work, a new method for the retrieval of vertical profiles of tropospheric trace gases from tropospheric DOAS limb observations is presented. Major challenges arise from modeling the radiative transfer in an aerosol and cloud particle loaded atmosphere, and from overcoming the lack of a priori knowledge of the targeted trace gas vertical distribution (e.g., unknown tropospheric BrO vertical distribution). Here, those challenges are tackled by a mathematical inversion of tropospheric trace gas profiles using a regularization approach constrained by a retrieved vertical profile of the aerosols extinction coefficient εM. The validity and limitations of the algorithm are tested with in situ measured εM, and with an absorber of known vertical profile (O4). The method is then used for retrieving vertical profiles of tropospheric BrO. Results indicate that, for aircraft ascent/descent observations, the limit for the BrO detection is roughly 1.5 pptv (pmol/mol), and the BrO profiles inferred from the boundary layer up to the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere have around 10 degrees of freedom. For the ASTAR 2007 deployments during ODEs, the retrieved BrO vertical profiles consistently indicate high BrO mixing ratios (~15 pptv) within the boundary layer, low BrO mixing ratios (≤1.5 pptv) in the free troposphere, occasionally enhanced BrO mixing ratios (~1.5 pptv) in the upper troposphere, and increasing BrO mixing ratios with altitude in the lowermost stratosphere. These findings are well in agreement with satellite and balloon-borne soundings of total and partial BrO atmospheric column densities.

scholarly journals Tropospheric mercury vertical profiles between 500 and 10 000 m in central Europe

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 4135-4146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Weigelt ◽  
Ralf Ebinghaus ◽  
Nicola Pirrone ◽  
Johannes Bieser ◽  
Jan Bödewadt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Vertical Profile ◽  
Mixed Boundary ◽  
Atmospheric Mercury ◽  
Observation System ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Free Troposphere ◽  
Airborne Measurements ◽  
The Vertical Distribution

Abstract. The knowledge of the vertical distribution of atmospheric mercury (Hg) plays an important role in determining the transport and cycling of mercury. However, measurements of the vertical distribution are rare, because airborne measurements are expensive and labour intensive. Consequently, only a few vertical Hg profile measurements have been reported since the 1970s. Besides the Civil Aircraft for the Regular Investigation of the atmosphere Based on an Instrument Container (CARIBIC) observations, the latest vertical profile over Europe was measured in 1996. Within the Global Mercury Observation System (GMOS) project, four vertical profiles were taken on board research aircraft (CASA-212) in August 2013 in background air over different locations in Slovenia and Germany. Each vertical profile consists of at least seven 5 min horizontal flight sections from 500 m above ground to 3000 m a.s.l. Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) and total gaseous mercury (TGM) were measured with Tekran 2537X and Tekran 2537B analysers. In addition to the mercury measurements, SO2, CO, O3, NO, and NO2, basic meteorological parameters (pressure, temperature, relative humidity) have been measured. Additional ground-based mercury measurements at the GMOS master site in Waldhof, Germany and measurements onboard the CARIBIC passenger aircraft were used to extend the profile to the ground and upper troposphere respectively. No vertical gradient was found inside the well-mixed boundary layer (variation of less than 0.1 ng m−3) at different sites, with GEM varying from location to location between 1.4 and 1.6 ng m−3 (standard temperature and pressure, STP: T  =  273.15 K, p  =  1013.25 hPa). At all locations GEM dropped to 1.3 ng m−3 (STP) when entering the free troposphere and remained constant at higher altitudes. The combination of the vertical profile, measured on 21 August 2013 over Leipzig, Germany, with the CARIBIC measurements during ascent and descent to Frankfurt Airport, Germany, taken at approximately the same time, provide a unique central European vertical profile from inside the boundary layer (550 m a.s.l) to the upper free troposphere (10 500 m a.s.l.) and show a fairly constant free-tropospheric TGM concentration of 1.3 ng m−3 (STP).

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