scholarly journals Retrieval of stratospheric aerosol size distribution parameters using SAGE-III/ISS extinction measurements at three wavelengths

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Wrana ◽  
Christian von Savigny ◽  
Jacob Zalach ◽  
Larry W. Thomason
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Stratospheric Aerosol ◽  
Aerosol Size Distribution ◽  
Aerosol Layer ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Extinction Coefficients ◽  
Solar Occultation ◽  
Spatial Coverage

Abstract. In this work a novel approach to determine the particle size distribution (PSD) parameters of stratospheric sulfate aerosols is presented. For this, ratios of extinction coefficients obtained from SAGE III/ISS solar occultation measurements at 449 nm, 756 nm and 1544 nm were used to retrieve the mode width and median radius of a size distribution assumed to be monomodal lognormal. The estimated errors at the peak of the stratospheric aerosol layer on average lie between 20 % and 25 % for the median radius and 5 % and 7 % for the mode width. The results are consistent in magnitude with other retrieval results from the literature, but a robust comparison is difficult, mainly because of differences in temporal and spatial coverage. Other quantities like number density and effective radius were also calculated. A major advantage of the described method over other retrieval techniques is that both the median radius and the mode width can be retrieved simultaneously, without having to assume one of them, due to the broad wavelength spectrum covered by the SAGE III/ISS measurements. Also the extinction coefficients from SAGE III/ISS solar occultation measurements, on which the retrieval is based, are calculated without a priori assumptions about the PSD. For those reasons, the data produced with the presented retrieval technique may be a valuable contribution to better understand the variability of stratospheric aerosol size distributions, e.g. after volcanic eruptions. While this study focuses on describing the retrieval method and a future study will discuss the PSD parameter data set produced in depth, some exemplary results for background conditions in June 2017 are shown.

scholarly journals Retrieval of stratospheric aerosol size distribution parameters using satellite solar occultation measurements at three wavelengths

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 2345-2357
Author(s):  
Felix Wrana ◽  
Christian von Savigny ◽  
Jacob Zalach ◽  
Larry W. Thomason
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Stratospheric Aerosol ◽  
Aerosol Size Distribution ◽  
Aerosol Layer ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Extinction Coefficients ◽  
Solar Occultation ◽  
Spatial Coverage

Abstract. In this work, a novel approach for the determination of the particle size distribution (PSD) parameters of stratospheric sulfate aerosols is presented. For this, ratios of extinction coefficients obtained from SAGE III/ISS (Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III on the International Space Station) solar occultation measurements at 449, 756 and 1544 nm were used to retrieve the mode width and median radius of a size distribution assumed to be monomodal lognormal. The estimated errors at the peak of the stratospheric aerosol layer, on average, lie between 20 % and 25 % for the median radius and 5 % and 7 % for the mode width. The results are consistent in magnitude with other retrieval results from the literature, but a robust comparison is difficult, mainly because of differences in temporal and spatial coverage. Other quantities like number density and effective radius were also calculated. A major advantage of the described method over other retrieval techniques is that both the median radius and the mode width can be retrieved simultaneously, without having to assume one of them. This is possible due to the broad wavelength spectrum covered by the SAGE III/ISS measurements. Also, the presented method – being based on the analysis of three wavelengths – allows unique solutions for the retrieval of PSD parameters for almost all of the observed extinction spectra, which is not the case when using only two spectral channels. In addition, the extinction coefficients from SAGE III/ISS solar occultation measurements, on which the retrieval is based, are calculated without a priori assumptions about the PSD. For those reasons, the data produced with the presented retrieval technique may be a valuable contribution for a better understanding of the variability of stratospheric aerosol size distributions, e.g. after volcanic eruptions. While this study focuses on describing the retrieval method, and a future study will discuss the PSD parameter data set produced in depth, some exemplary results for background conditions in June 2017 are shown.

scholarly journals Evidence for the predictability of changes in the stratospheric aerosol size following volcanic eruptions of diverse magnitudes using space-based instruments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry W. Thomason ◽  
Mahesh Kovilakam ◽  
Anja Schmidt ◽  
Christian von Savigny ◽  
Travis Knepp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Extinction Coefficient ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Stratospheric Aerosol ◽  
Global Climate Models ◽  
Aerosol Size Distribution ◽  
Aerosol Layer ◽  
Aerosol Extinction ◽  
Volcanic Event ◽  
Aerosol Extinction Coefficient

Abstract. An analysis of multiwavelength stratospheric aerosol extinction coefficient data from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II and III/ISS instruments is used to demonstrate a coherent relationship between the perturbation in extinction coefficient in an eruption's main aerosol layer and an apparent change in aerosol size distribution that spans multiple orders of magnitude in the stratospheric impact of a volcanic event. The relationship is measurement-based and does not rely on assumptions about the aerosol size distribution. We note limitations on this analysis including that the presence of significant amounts of ash in the main aerosol layer may significantly modulate these results. Despite this limitation, these findings represent a unique opportunity to verify the performance of interactive aerosol models used in Global Climate Models and Earth System Model and may suggest an avenue for improving aerosol extinction coefficient measurements from single channel observations such the Optical Spectrograph and Infrared Imager System as they rely on a priori assumptions about particle size.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the OMPS/LP stratospheric aerosol extinction product using SAGE III/ISS observations

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3471-3485
Author(s):  
Zhong Chen ◽  
Pawan K. Bhartia ◽  
Omar Torres ◽  
Glen Jaross ◽  
Robert Loughman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Stratospheric Aerosol ◽  
Aerosol Size Distribution ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Aerosol Layer ◽  
Aerosol Extinction ◽  
Extinction Time ◽  
Altitude Range

Abstract. The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite Limb Profiler (OMPS/LP) has been taking limb-scattered measurements since April 2012. It is designed to produce ozone and aerosol vertical profiles at a 1.6 km vertical resolution over the entire sunlit globe. The Version 1.5 (V1.5) aerosol extinction retrieval algorithm provides aerosol extinction profiles using observed radiances at 675 nm. The algorithm assumes Mie theory and a gamma function aerosol size distribution for the stratospheric aerosol that is derived from results calculated by the Community Aerosol and Radiation Model for Atmospheres (CARMA). In this paper, we compare V1.5 LP aerosol profiles with SAGE III/ISS solar occultation observations for the period from June 2017 to May 2019, when both measurements were available to evaluate our ability to characterize background aerosol conditions. Overall, LP extinction profiles agree with SAGE III/ISS data to within ±25 % for altitudes between 19 and 27 km, even during periods perturbed by volcanic eruptions or intense forest fires. In this altitude range, the slope parameter of linear fitting of LP extinction values with respect to SAGE III/ISS measurements is close to 1.0, with Pearson correlation coefficients of r≥0.95, indicating that the LP aerosol data are reliable in that altitude range. Comparisons of extinction time series show that both instruments capture the variability of the stratospheric aerosol layer quite well, and the differences between the two instruments vary from 0 % to ±25 % depending on altitude, latitude, and time. In contrast, we find erroneous seasonal variations in the OMPS/LP Version 1.5 dataset, which usually exist below 20 km in the Southern Hemisphere due to the lack of sensitivity to particles when the scattering angle (SA) is greater than 145∘. We also find that LP-retrieved extinction is systematically higher than SAGE III/ISS observations at altitudes above 28 km and systematically lower below 19 km in the tropics with significant biases up to ±13 %. This is likely due in part to the fact that the actual aerosol size distribution is altitude dependent. There are also other reasons related to cloud contamination, wavelength limitations, aerosol loading, and the influence of the viewing configuration.

scholarly journals Evaluation of OMPS/LP Stratospheric Aerosol Extinction Product Using SAGE III/ISS Observations

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhong Chen ◽  
Pawan K. Bhartia ◽  
Omar Torres ◽  
Glen Jaross ◽  
Robert Loughman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Stratospheric Aerosol ◽  
Aerosol Size Distribution ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Aerosol Layer ◽  
Aerosol Extinction ◽  
Extinction Time

Abstract. The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite Limb Profiler (OMPS/LP) has been flying on the Suomi NPP satellite since October 2011. It is designed to produce ozone and aerosol vertical profiles at 1.6 km vertical resolution over the entire sunlit globe. The Version 1.5 (V1.5) aerosol extinction retrieval algorithm provides aerosol extinction profiles using observed radiances at 675 nm. The algorithm assumes Mie theory and a gamma function aerosol size distribution for the stratospheric aerosol that is derived from Community Aerosol and Radiation Model for Atmospheres (CARMA) calculated results and observations in April 2012. In this paper, we compare V1.5 LP aerosol profiles with SAGE III/ISS solar occultation observations for the period June 2017 – May 2019, when both measurements were available. Overall, LP extinction profiles agree with SAGE data to within ±25 % for the main aerosol layer between 19 and 27 km, even during periods perturbed by volcanic eruptions or intense forest fires. The slope parameter of linear fitting of LP extinctions with respect to SAGE measurements are close to 1.0, with Pearson's correlation coefficients of r ≥ 0.95, indicating that the LP aerosol data are reliable in that altitude range. Comparisons of extinction time series show a high degree of correlation between LP and SAGE, indicating that the LP retrieved extinction variability in time is robust. On the other hand, we find that LP retrieved extinction is systematically higher than SAGE observations at altitudes above 28 km and systematically lower below 19 km in the tropics. This is likely due in part to the fact that the actual aerosol size distribution is altitude dependent, while the assumed size distribution in the V1.5 retrieval is assumed to be altitude independent and so it may be less accurate for altitudes above 28 km and below 19 km where the size distribution is more variable. There are other reasons related to cloud contamination, wavelength limitations and the accuracy of both instruments at low aerosol loading.

scholarly journals Evidence for the predictability of changes in the stratospheric aerosol size following volcanic eruptions of diverse magnitudes using space-based instruments

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 1143-1158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry W. Thomason ◽  
Mahesh Kovilakam ◽  
Anja Schmidt ◽  
Christian von Savigny ◽  
Travis Knepp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Extinction Coefficient ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Stratospheric Aerosol ◽  
Global Climate Models ◽  
Aerosol Size Distribution ◽  
Aerosol Layer ◽  
Aerosol Extinction ◽  
Aerosol Extinction Coefficient

Abstract. An analysis of multiwavelength stratospheric aerosol extinction coefficient data from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II and III/ISS instruments is used to demonstrate a coherent relationship between the perturbation in extinction coefficient in an eruption's main aerosol layer and the wavelength dependence of that perturbation. This relationship spans multiple orders of magnitude in the aerosol extinction coefficient of stratospheric impact of volcanic events. The relationship is measurement-based and does not rely on assumptions about the aerosol size distribution. We note limitations on this analysis including that the presence of significant amounts of ash in the main sulfuric acid aerosol layer and other factors may significantly modulate these results. Despite these limitations, the findings suggest an avenue for improving aerosol extinction coefficient measurements from single-channel observations such as the Optical Spectrograph and Infrared Imager System as they rely on a prior assumptions about particle size. They may also represent a distinct avenue for the comparison of observations with interactive aerosol models used in global climate models and Earth system models.

scholarly journals Improved stratospheric aerosol extinction profiles from SCIAMACHY: validation and sample results

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 5223-5235 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. von Savigny ◽  
F. Ernst ◽  
A. Rozanov ◽  
R. Hommel ◽  
K.-U. Eichmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Temporal Variability ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Stratospheric Aerosol ◽  
Aerosol Extinction ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Solar Occultation ◽  
Mission Period ◽  
Relative Differences

Abstract. Stratospheric aerosol extinction profiles have been retrieved from SCIAMACHY/Envisat measurements of limb-scattered solar radiation. The retrieval is an improved version of an algorithm presented earlier. The retrieved aerosol extinction profiles are compared to co-located aerosol profile measurements from the SAGE II solar occultation instrument at a wavelength of 525 nm. Comparisons were carried out with two versions of the SAGE II data set (version 6.2 and the new version 7.0). In a global average sense the SCIAMACHY and the SAGE II version 7.0 extinction profiles agree to within about 10 % for altitudes above 15 km. Larger relative differences (up to 40 %) are observed at specific latitudes and altitudes. We also find differences between the two SAGE II data versions of up to 40 % for specific latitudes and altitudes, consistent with earlier reports. Sample results on the latitudinal and temporal variability of stratospheric aerosol extinction and optical depth during the SCIAMACHY mission period are presented. The results confirm earlier reports that a series of volcanic eruptions is responsible for the increase in stratospheric aerosol optical depth from 2002 to 2012. Above about an altitude of 28 km, volcanic eruptions are found to have negligible impact in the period 2002–2012.

scholarly journals Aerosol particle size distribution in the stratosphere retrieved from SCIAMACHY limb measurements

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 2085-2100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizaveta Malinina ◽  
Alexei Rozanov ◽  
Vladimir Rozanov ◽  
Patricia Liebing ◽  
Heinrich Bovensmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Aerosol Particle ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Stratospheric Aerosol ◽  
Solar Light ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Aerosol Particle Size ◽  
Distribution Parameters

Abstract. Information about aerosols in the Earth's atmosphere is of a great importance in the scientific community. While tropospheric aerosol influences the radiative balance of the troposphere and affects human health, stratospheric aerosol plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry and climate change. In particular, information about the amount and distribution of stratospheric aerosols is required to initialize climate models, as well as validate aerosol microphysics models and investigate geoengineering. In addition, good knowledge of stratospheric aerosol loading is needed to increase the retrieval accuracy of key trace gases (e.g. ozone or water vapour) when interpreting remote sensing measurements of the scattered solar light. The most commonly used characteristics to describe stratospheric aerosols are the aerosol extinction coefficient and Ångström coefficient. However, the use of particle size distribution parameters along with the aerosol number density is a more optimal approach. In this paper we present a new retrieval algorithm to obtain the particle size distribution of stratospheric aerosol from space-borne observations of the scattered solar light in the limb-viewing geometry. While the mode radius and width of the aerosol particle size distribution are retrieved, the aerosol particle number density profile remains unchanged. The latter is justified by a lower sensitivity of the limb-scattering measurements to changes in this parameter. To our knowledge this is the first data set providing two parameters of the particle size distribution of stratospheric aerosol from space-borne measurements of scattered solar light. Typically, the mode radius and w can be retrieved with an uncertainty of less than 20 %. The algorithm was successfully applied to the tropical region (20° N–20° S) for 10 years (2002–2012) of SCIAMACHY observations in limb-viewing geometry, establishing a unique data set. Analysis of this new climatology for the particle size distribution parameters showed clear increases in the mode radius after the tropical volcanic eruptions, whereas no distinct behaviour of the absolute distribution width could be identified. A tape recorder, which describes the time lag as the perturbation propagates to higher altitudes, was identified for both parameters after the volcanic eruptions. A quasi-biannual oscillation (QBO) pattern at upper altitudes (28–32 km) is prominent in the anomalies of the analysed parameters. A comparison of the aerosol effective radii derived from SCIAMACHY and SAGE II data was performed. The average difference is found to be around 30 % at the lower altitudes, decreasing with increasing height to almost zero around 30 km. The data sample available for the comparison is, however, relatively small.

scholarly journals Aerosol particle size distribution in the stratosphere retrieved from SCIAMACHY limb measurements

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizaveta Malinina ◽  
Alexei Rozanov ◽  
Vladimir Rozanov ◽  
Patricia Liebing ◽  
Heinrich Bovensmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Aerosol Particle ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Stratospheric Aerosol ◽  
Solar Light ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Distribution Width ◽  
Aerosol Particle Size

Abstract. Information about aerosols in the Earth’s atmosphere is of a great importance in the scientific community. While tropospheric aerosol influences the radiative balance of the troposphere and affects human health, stratospheric aerosol plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry and climate change. In particular, information about the amount and distribution of stratospheric aerosols is required to initialize climate models, as well as validate aerosol microphysics models and investigate geoengineering. In addition, good knowledge of stratospheric aerosol loading is needed to increase the retrieval accuracy for the key trace gases (e.g. ozone or water vapor), when interpreting remote sensing measurements of the scattered solar light. There are several parameters which are commonly used to describe stratospheric aerosols, such as the aerosol extinction coefficient and Ångström coefficient. However, the use of particle size distribution parameters coupled with the aerosol number density is an unambiguous and more optimal approach. In this manuscript we present a new retrieval algorithm to obtain the particle size distribution of the stratospheric aerosol from space borne observations of the scattered solar light in the limb viewing geometry. While the mode radius and width of the aerosol particle size distribution are retrieved, the aerosol particle number density remains unchanged. The latter is justified by a lower sensitivity of the limb-scattering measurements to changes in this parameter. To our knowledge this the first data set providing two parameters of the particle size distribution of the stratospheric aerosol from space borne measurements of the scattered solar light. Generally, the mode radius and absolute distribution width can be retrieved with the uncertainty of less than 20 %. The algorithm was successfully applied to the tropical region (20° N–20° S) for 10 years (2002–2012) of SCIAMACHY observations in limb viewing geometry, establishing a unique data set. Analysis of this new climatology for the particle size distribution parameters showed clear increases of the mode radius after the tropical volcanic eruptions, whereas no distinct behaviour oft the absolute distribution width could be identified. A tape recorder, which describes the time lag as the perturbation propagates to higher altitudes, was identified for both parameters after the volcanic eruptions. A Quasi Biannual Oscillation (QBO) pattern at upper altitudes (28–32 km) is prominent in the anomalies of the analyzed parameters. A comparison of the aerosol effective radii derived from SCIAMACHY and SAGE II data was performed. The average difference is found to be around 30 % at the lower altitudes decreasing with increasing height to almost zero around 30 km. The data sample available for the comparison is, however, relatively small.

Smaller average stratospheric aerosol sizes after volcanic eruptions in 2018 and 2019

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Wrana ◽  
Christian von Savigny ◽  
Larry W. Thomason
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Stratospheric Aerosol ◽  
Aerosol Layer ◽  
Spatial Evolution ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Number Density ◽  
Temporal And Spatial Evolution ◽  
Solar Occultation ◽  
Temporal And Spatial

<p>We present surprising results of our stratospheric aerosol size retrieval which is using the SAGE III/ISS solar occultation measurements, that started in 2017. Due to the broad wavelength spectrum covered by the instrument a robust retrieval of the median radius, mode width and number density of monomodal lognormal size distributions is possible.</p><p>In the timeframe of SAGE III’s operation so far three small to mid intensity volcanic eruptions that reached and perturbed the stratospheric aerosol layer were observed by the instrument: The Ambae eruptions (15.3°S) in spring of 2018 and the Raikoke (48.3°N) and Ulawun (5.05°S) eruptions, both in June 2019. While the Raikoke eruption led to an increase in the median radius of the stratospheric aerosols, which was to be expected and is in line with previous observations, the Ambae and Ulawun eruption had a different effect. After both eruptions the average aerosol size decreased, with lower median radii and narrower size distributions, while the number density increased strongly. The observation, that volcanic eruptions may lead to smaller average stratospheric aerosol sizes is a novel one and should be of great interest to the modeling as well as remote sensing community.</p><p>We will present the temporal and spatial evolution of the stratospheric perturbations and discuss what may distinguish those three eruptions from each other.</p>

scholarly journals The Model Intercomparison Project on the climatic response to Volcanic forcing (VolMIP): experimental design and forcing input data for CMIP6

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 2701-2719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Zanchettin ◽  
Myriam Khodri ◽  
Claudia Timmreck ◽  
Matthew Toohey ◽  
Anja Schmidt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Input Data ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Stratospheric Aerosol ◽  
Aerosol Layer ◽  
Model Intercomparison ◽  
Climatic Response ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Volcanic Forcing ◽  
Intercomparison Project

Abstract. The enhancement of the stratospheric aerosol layer by volcanic eruptions induces a complex set of responses causing global and regional climate effects on a broad range of timescales. Uncertainties exist regarding the climatic response to strong volcanic forcing identified in coupled climate simulations that contributed to the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). In order to better understand the sources of these model diversities, the Model Intercomparison Project on the climatic response to Volcanic forcing (VolMIP) has defined a coordinated set of idealized volcanic perturbation experiments to be carried out in alignment with the CMIP6 protocol. VolMIP provides a common stratospheric aerosol data set for each experiment to minimize differences in the applied volcanic forcing. It defines a set of initial conditions to assess how internal climate variability contributes to determining the response. VolMIP will assess to what extent volcanically forced responses of the coupled ocean–atmosphere system are robustly simulated by state-of-the-art coupled climate models and identify the causes that limit robust simulated behavior, especially differences in the treatment of physical processes. This paper illustrates the design of the idealized volcanic perturbation experiments in the VolMIP protocol and describes the common aerosol forcing input data sets to be used.

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