Sensitivity study on polarized aerosol retrievals of PARASOL in Beijing and Kanpur

Abstract. Sensitivity study on the PARASOL aerosol retrieval algorithm over land is presented for aerosol mixtures composed of fine mode pollution particles combined with coarse mode desert dust. First an assessment of the PARASOL aerosol products during the period of 2005–2009 is investigated by comparison with AOD derived by AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) at Beijing and Kanpur. Validation against AERONET fine mode AOD shows an overall high correlation of R2 = 0.79 for Beijing and R2 = 0.83 for Kanpur. However, the PARASOL retrievals are found to underestimate aerosol optical depth by about 27% and 34% for Beijing and Kanpur, respectively. The AOD agreement is obviously poorer as compared to AERONET total AOD, showing underestimation by 60% and 67%. At both sites, the PARASOL retrieval algorithm performs better in autumn and winter seasons with the best appearing in autumn. As PARASOL aerosol algorithm is sensitive to the accumulation mode of the aerosol size distribution, we conduct study on the threshold radius of this fraction of size distribution, named as sensitive radius, for different seasons at both Beijing and Kanpur. The results show that the sensitive radius for polarized aerosol retrieval is 0.35 μm for all seasons. And the agreement is significantly improved by employing comparison against the AERONET AOD recomputed for radius <0.35 μm, showing a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.82 with relative difference being 12% for Beijing and 0.87 with relative difference being 19% for Kanpur. The sensitivity study on uncertainty of PARASOL aerosol retrieval demonstrates that uncertainties caused by the algorithm-assumed refractive index and size distribution are significantly higher in spring than those of autumn and winter seasons. The aerosol retrieval errors caused by aerosol polarized phase function qa(Θ) for spring are found to be higher at Kanpur, due to the obviously higher content of coarse dust particles. For all seasons the aerosol retrieval errors contributed by uncertainty in qa(Θ) are much close to the total retrieval errors (accounts for about 65% to 94% in different seasons), indicating that the overestimate of qa(Θ) in PARASOL algorithm accounts for most of the underestimate of retrieved AOD at both sites. Investigation on the uncertainty of surface contribution shows that the surface model overestimates surface polarization from about 20% to 50% with the maximum uncertainties occurring in winter.

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Characterisation of aerosol size properties from measurements of spectral optical depth: a global validation of the GRASP-AOD code using long-term AERONET data

10.5194/amt-2020-426 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Benjamin Torres ◽

David Fuertes

Keyword(s):

Size Distribution ◽

Optical Depth ◽

Volume Concentration ◽

Effective Radius ◽

Aerosol Size Distribution ◽

Retrieval Algorithm ◽

Aerosol Retrieval ◽

Coarse Mode ◽

Fine Mode ◽

Log Normal

Abstract. A validation study is conducted regarding aerosol optical size property retrievals from only measurements of the direct Sun beam (without the aid of diffuse radiation). The study focuses on testing with real data the new GRASP-AOD application which uses only spectral optical depth measurements to retrieve the total column aerosol size distributions, assumed as bimodal log-normal. In addition, a set of secondary integral parameters of aerosol size distribution and optical properties are provided: effective radius, total volume concentration and fine mode fraction of aerosol optical depth. The GRASP-AOD code is applied to almost three million observations acquired during twenty years (1997–2016) at thirty AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) sites. These validation sites have been selected based on known availability of an extensive data record, significant aerosol load variability along the year, wide worldwide coverage and divers aerosol types and source regions. The output parameters are compared to those coming from the operational AERONET retrievals. The retrieved fine mode fractions at 500 nm (τf(500)) obtained by GRASP-AOD application are compared to those retrieved by the Spectral Deconvolution Algorithm and by AERONET aerosol retrieval algorithm. The size distribution properties obtained by GRASP-AOD are compared to their equivalent values from the AERONET aerosol retrieval algorithm. The analysis showed the convincing capacity of GRASP-AOD approach to successfully discriminate between fine and coarse mode extinction to robustly retrieve τf(500). The comparisons of 2 million results of τf(500) retrieval by GRASP-AOD and SDA showed high correlation with a root-mean-square-error of 0.015. Also, the analysis showed that the τf(500) values computed by AERONET aerosol retrieval algorithm agree slightly better with GRASP-AOD (RMSE = 0.018, from 148526 comparisons) than with SDA (RMSE = 0.022, from 127203 comparisons). The comparisons of the size distribution retrieval showed the agreement for fine mode median radius between GRASP-AOD and AERONET aerosol retrieval algorithm results with RMSE of 0.032 μm (or 18.7 % in relative terms) for the situations when τ(440) > 0.2 that occurs for more than eighty thousand pairs of the study. For the cases where fine mode is dominant (i.e. α 0.2. The values of effective radius and total volume concentration computed from GRASP-AOD retrieval have been compared to those estimated by AERONET aerosol retrieval algorithm. The RMSE values of the correlations were of 30 % for the effective radius and 25 % for the total volume concentration when τ(440) > 0.2. Finally, the study discusses the importance of employing the assumption of bimodal log-normal size distribution. It also evaluates the potential of using ancillary data, in particular aureole measurements, for improving the characterization of the aerosol coarse mode properties.

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Characterization of aerosol size properties from measurements of spectral optical depth: a global validation of the GRASP-AOD code using long-term AERONET data

Atmospheric Measurement Techniques ◽

10.5194/amt-14-4471-2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 4471-4506

Author(s):

Benjamin Torres ◽

David Fuertes

Keyword(s):

Size Distribution ◽

Optical Depth ◽

Volume Concentration ◽

Effective Radius ◽

Retrieval Algorithm ◽

Aerosol Retrieval ◽

Coarse Mode ◽

Fine Mode ◽

Aerosol Types

Abstract. A validation study is conducted regarding aerosol optical size property retrievals from measurements of the direct sun beam only (without the aid of diffuse radiation). The study focuses on using real data to test the new GRASP-AOD application, which uses only spectral optical depth measurements to retrieve the total column aerosol size distributions, assumed to be bimodal lognormal. In addition, a set of secondary integral parameters of aerosol size distribution and optical properties are provided: effective radius, total volume concentration and fine-mode fraction of aerosol optical depth (AOD). The GRASP-AOD code is applied to almost 3 million observations acquired over 20 years (1997–2016) at 30 AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) sites. These validation sites have been selected based on known availability of an extensive data record, significant aerosol load variability throughout the year, wide worldwide coverage and diverse aerosol types and source regions. The output parameters are compared to those coming from the operational AERONET retrievals. The retrieved fine-mode fractions at 500 nm (τf(500)) obtained by the GRASP-AOD application are compared to those retrieved by the spectral deconvolution algorithm (SDA) and by the AERONET aerosol retrieval algorithm. The size distribution properties obtained by the GRASP-AOD are compared to their equivalent values from the AERONET aerosol retrieval algorithm. The analysis showed the convincing capacity of the GRASP-AOD approach to successfully discriminate between fine- and coarse-mode extinction to robustly retrieve τf(500). The comparisons of 2 million results of τf(500) retrieval by the GRASP-AOD and SDA showed high correlation with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.015. Also, the analysis showed that the τf(500) values computed by the AERONET aerosol retrieval algorithm agree slightly better with the GRASP-AOD (RMSE = 0.018, from 148 526 comparisons) than with the SDA (RMSE = 0.022, from 127 203 comparisons). The comparisons of the size distribution retrieval showed agreement for the fine-mode median radius between the GRASP-AOD and AERONET aerosol retrieval algorithm results with an RMSE of 0.032 µm (or 18.7 % in relative terms) for the situations when τ(440)>0.2 occur for more than 80 000 pairs of the study. For the cases where the fine mode is dominant (i.e., α>1.2), the RMSE is only of 0.023 µm (or 13.9 % in relative terms). Major limitations in the retrieval were found for the characterization of the coarse-mode details. For example, the analysis revealed that the GRASP-AOD retrieval is not sensitive to the small variations of the coarse-mode volume median radius for different aerosol types observed at different locations. Nonetheless the GRASP-AOD retrieval provides reasonable agreement with the AERONET aerosol retrieval algorithm for overall coarse-mode properties with with RMSE = 0.500 µm (RMSRE = 20 %) when τ(440)>0.2. The values of effective radius and total volume concentration computed from the GRASP-AOD retrieval have been compared to those estimated by the AERONET aerosol retrieval algorithm. The RMSE values of the correlations were 30 % for the effective radius and 25 % for the total volume concentration when τ(440)>0.2. Finally, the study discusses the importance of employing the assumption of bimodal lognormal size distribution. It also evaluates the potential of using ancillary data, in particular aureole measurements, for improving the characterization of the aerosol coarse-mode properties.

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Aerosol retrievals from different polarimeters during the ACEPOL campaign using a common retrieval algorithm

Atmospheric Measurement Techniques ◽

10.5194/amt-13-553-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 553-573 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Guangliang Fu ◽

Otto Hasekamp ◽

Jeroen Rietjens ◽

Martijn Smit ◽

Antonio Di Noia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Central Valley ◽

Absolute Error ◽

The United States ◽

High Spectral Resolution ◽

Retrieval Algorithm ◽

Smoke Plume ◽

Aerosol Retrieval ◽

Fine Mode ◽

High Spectral Resolution Lidar ◽

532 Nm

Abstract. In this paper, we present aerosol retrieval results from the ACEPOL (Aerosol Characterization from Polarimeter and Lidar) campaign, which was a joint initiative between NASA and SRON – the Netherlands Institute for Space Research. The campaign took place in October–November 2017 over the western part of the United States. During ACEPOL six different instruments were deployed on the NASA ER-2 high-altitude aircraft, including four multi-angle polarimeters (MAPs): SPEX airborne, the Airborne Hyper Angular Rainbow Polarimeter (AirHARP), the Airborne Multi-angle SpectroPolarimetric Imager (AirMSPI), and the Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP). Also, two lidars participated: the High Spectral Resolution Lidar-2 (HSRL-2) and the Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL). Flights were conducted mainly for scenes with low aerosol load over land, but some cases with higher AOD were also observed. We perform aerosol retrievals from SPEX airborne, RSP (410–865 nm range only), and AirMSPI using the SRON aerosol retrieval algorithm and compare the results against AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) and HSRL-2 measurements (for SPEX airborne and RSP). All three MAPs compare well against AERONET for the aerosol optical depth (AOD), with a mean absolute error (MAE) between 0.014 and 0.024 at 440 nm. For the fine-mode effective radius the MAE ranges between 0.021 and 0.028 µm. For the comparison with HSRL-2 we focus on a day with low AOD (0.02–0.14 at 532 nm) over the California Central Valley, Arizona, and Nevada (26 October) as well as a flight with high AOD (including measurements with AOD>1.0 at 532 nm) over a prescribed forest fire in Arizona (9 November). For the day with low AOD the MAEs in AOD (at 532 nm) with HSRL-2 are 0.014 and 0.022 for SPEX and RSP, respectively, showing the capability of MAPs to provide accurate AOD retrievals for the challenging case of low AOD over land. For the retrievals over the smoke plume a reasonable agreement in AOD between the MAPs and HSRL-2 was also found (MAE 0.088 and 0.079 for SPEX and RSP, respectively), despite the fact that the comparison is hampered by large spatial variability in AOD throughout the smoke plume. A good comparison is also found between the MAPs and HSRL-2 for the aerosol depolarization ratio (a measure of particle sphericity), with an MAE of 0.023 and 0.016 for SPEX and RSP, respectively. Finally, SPEX and RSP agree very well for the retrieved microphysical and optical properties of the smoke plume.

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Using MODIS and AERONET to Determine GCM Aerosol Size

Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences ◽

10.1175/jas3668.1 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 63 (4) ◽

pp. 1338-1347 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Glen Lesins ◽

Ulrike Lohmann

Keyword(s):

Size Distribution ◽

Aerosol Optical Depth ◽

Optical Depth ◽

General Circulation ◽

Climate Model ◽

General Circulation Models ◽

Aerosol Size Distribution ◽

Error Source ◽

Fine Mode ◽

Fine Mode Aerosol

Abstract Aerosol size is still a poorly constrained quantity in general circulation models (GCMs). By using the modal radii of the coarse and fine mode retrieved from 103 stations in the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) and the fine mode aerosol optical depth fraction derived from both the Moderate Resolute Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra and AERONET, a globally and monthly averaged aerosol size distribution dataset was computed assuming internally mixed aerosols. Different methods were employed in creating the size distribution datasets that were input to the ECHAM4 climate model giving a globally averaged aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 500 nm that ranged from 0.11 to 0.20 depending on the method. This translates into a globally averaged direct aerosol top-of-atmosphere forcing range from −1.6 to −3.9 W m−2. Reducing the uncertainty in the aerosol sizes is important when using AOD to validate models since mass burden errors can then be assumed to be the main AOD error source. This paper explores a procedure that can help achieve this goal.

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Aerosol pH and its influencing factors in Beijing

10.5194/acp-2018-270 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jing Ding ◽

Pusheng Zhao ◽

Jie Su ◽

Qun Dong ◽

Xiang Du

Keyword(s):

Inorganic Ions ◽

Dilution Effect ◽

Liquid Water Content ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Aerosol Acidity ◽

Four Seasons ◽

Different Seasons ◽

Fine Mode ◽

Autumn And Winter ◽

Physical And Chemical

Abstract. Acidity (pH) plays a key role in the physical and chemical behavior of aerosol and cannot be measured directly. In this work, aerosol liquid water content (ALWC) and size-resolved pH are predicted by thermodynamic model (ISORROPIA-II) in 2017 of Beijing. The mean aerosol pH over four seasons is 4.3±1.6 (spring), 4.5±1.1 (winter), 3.9±1.3 (summer), 4.1±1.0 (autumn), respectively, showing the moderate aerosol acidity. The aerosol pH in fine mode is in the range of 1.8 ~ 3.9, 2.4 ~ 6.3 and 3.5 ~ 6.5 for summer, autumn and winter, respectively. And coarse particles are generally neutral or alkaline. Diurnal variation of aerosol pH follows both aerosol components (especially the sulfate) and ALWC. For spring, summer and autumn, the averaged nighttime pH is 0.3~0.4 unit higher than that on daytime. Whereas in winter, the aerosol pH is relatively low at night and higher at sunset. SO42− and RH are two crucial factors affecting aerosol pH. For spring, winter and autumn, the effect of SO42− on aerosol pH is greater than RH, and it is comparable with RH in summer. The aerosol pH decreases with elevated SO42− concentration. As the NO3− concentration increases, the aerosol pH firstly increases and then decreases. Sulfate-dominant aerosols are more acidic with pH lower than 4, whereas nitrate-dominated aerosols are weak in acidity with pH ranges 3~5. In recent years, the dominance of NO3− in inorganic ions may be another reason responsible for the moderately acidic aerosol. ALWC has a different effect on aerosol pH in different seasons. In winter, the increasing RH could reduce the aerosol pH whereas it shows a totally reverse tendency in summer, and the elevated RH has little effect on aerosol pH in spring and autumn when the RH is between 30 % and 80 %. The dilution effect of ALWC on Hair+ is only obvious in summer. The elevated NH3 and NH4+ could reduce aerosol acidity by decreasing Hair+ concentration exponentially.

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Improvement of stratospheric aerosol extinction retrieval from OMPS/LP using a new aerosol model

Atmospheric Measurement Techniques ◽

10.5194/amt-11-6495-2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 6495-6509 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Zhong Chen ◽

Pawan K. Bhartia ◽

Robert Loughman ◽

Peter Colarco ◽

Matthew DeLand

Keyword(s):

Size Distribution ◽

Gamma Function ◽

Spectral Dependence ◽

Stratospheric Aerosol ◽

Cumulative Distribution ◽

Aerosol Size Distribution ◽

Retrieval Algorithm ◽

Aerosol Extinction ◽

Aerosol Model ◽

The Impact

Abstract. The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite Limb Profiler (OMPS/LP) has been flying on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite since October 2011. It is designed to produce ozone and aerosol vertical profiles at ∼2 km vertical resolution over the entire sunlit globe. Aerosol extinction profiles are computed with Mie theory using radiances measured at 675 nm. The operational Version 1.0 (V1.0) aerosol extinction retrieval algorithm assumes a bimodal lognormal aerosol size distribution (ASD) whose parameters were derived by combining an in situ measurement of aerosol microphysics with the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE II) aerosol extinction climatology. Internal analysis indicates that this bimodal lognormal ASD does not sufficiently explain the spectral dependence of LP-measured radiances. In this paper we describe the derivation of an improved aerosol size distribution, designated Version 1.5 (V1.5), for the LP retrieval algorithm. The new ASD uses a gamma function distribution that is derived from Community Aerosol and Radiation Model for Atmospheres (CARMA)-calculated results. A cumulative distribution fit derived from the gamma function ASD gives better agreement with CARMA results at small particle radii than bimodal or unimodal functions. The new ASD also explains the spectral dependence of LP-measured radiances better than the V1.0 ASD. We find that the impact of our choice of ASD on the retrieved extinctions varies strongly with the underlying reflectivity of the scene. Initial comparisons with collocated extinction profiles retrieved at 676 nm from the SAGE III instrument on the International Space Station (ISS) show a significant improvement in agreement for the LP V1.5 retrievals. Zonal mean extinction profiles agree to within 10 % between 19 and 29 km, and regression fits of collocated samples show improved correlation and reduced scatter compared to the V1.0 product. This improved agreement will motivate development of more sophisticated ASDs from CARMA results that incorporate latitude, altitude and seasonal variations in aerosol properties.

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Impact of aerosol size distribution on extinction and spectral dependence of radiances measured by the OMPS Limb profiler instrument

10.5194/amt-2018-4 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zhong Chen ◽

Pawan K. Bhartia ◽

Robert Loughman ◽

Peter Colarco

Keyword(s):

Size Distribution ◽

Spectral Dependence ◽

Aerosol Size Distribution ◽

Retrieval Algorithm ◽

In Situ Data ◽

Aerosol Scattering ◽

Scattering Phase ◽

Scattering Phase Function ◽

Scattering Index ◽

The Impact

Abstract. The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite Limb Profiler (OMPS/LP) has been flying on the Suomi NPP satellite since Oct 2011. It is designed to produce ozone and aerosol vertical profiles at ~ 2 km vertical resolution over the entire sunlit globe. The current operational (V1) aerosol extinction retrieval algorithm assumes a bimodal lognormal aerosol size distribution (ASD) whose parameters were derived from in situ data taken from an aircraft. In this paper we discuss the impact on the retrieval of using an ASD derived by the Community Aerosol and Radiation Model for Atmospheres (CARMA). We find that the impact of ASD on the retrieved extinctions varies strongly with the underlying reflectivity of the scene, and the functional form of this variation is very different at different scattering angles. We also evaluate how well the two ASDs perform in explaining the spectral dependence of Aerosol Scattering Index (ASI); a dimensionless quantity that we derive from the measured radiances by subtracting out the Rayleigh contribution. ASI is easier to interpret than radiances themselves and serves as our measurement vector. The results show that even though the two ASDs produce very different aerosol scattering phase function values at small and large scattering angles, the effect of the ASD on the spectral dependence of ASI is significant only at small angles. This implies that while OMPS/LP measurements have some information to evaluate the ASDs, they are most effective only at small scattering angles, which for LP measurement geometry occur only in the northern hemisphere. Our analysis suggests that overall CARMA ASD does a better job in explaining the spectral dependence of measured ASI than the ASD used in the operational V1 algorithm.

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

Atmospheric Measurement Techniques ◽

10.5194/amt-13-3471-2020 ◽

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.

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Aerosol optical depth and fine-mode fraction retrieval over East Asia using multi-angular total and polarized remote sensing

Atmospheric Measurement Techniques ◽

10.5194/amt-5-501-2012 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 501-516 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

T. Cheng ◽

X. Gu ◽

D. Xie ◽

Z. Li ◽

T. Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

East Asia ◽

Aerosol Optical Depth ◽

Optical Depth ◽

Lookup Table ◽

Retrieval Algorithm ◽

Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽

Aerosol Retrieval ◽

Fine Mode ◽

Sun Photometer ◽

The Impact

Abstract. A new aerosol retrieval algorithm using multi-angular total and polarized measurements is presented. The algorithm retrieves aerosol optical depth (AOD), fine-mode fraction (FMF) for studying the impact of aerosol on climate change. The retrieval algorithm is based on a lookup table (LUT) method, which assumes that one fine and one coarse lognormal aerosol modes can be combined with proper weightings to represent the ambient aerosol properties. To reduce the ambiguity in retrieval algorithm, the key characteristics of aerosol model over East Asia are constrained using the cluster analysis technique based on the AERONET sun-photometer observation over East Asia, and the fine and coarse modes are not fixed but can vary. A mixing model of bare soil and green vegetation spectra and the Nadal and Breon model for the bidirectional polarized reflectance factor (BPDF) were used to simulate total and polarized surface reflectance of East Asia. By applying the present algorithm to POLDER measurements, three different aerosol cases of clear, polluted and dust are analyzed to test the algorithm. The comparison of retrieved aerosol optical depth (AOD) and fine-mode fraction (FMF) with those of AERONET sun-photometer observations show reliable results. Preliminary validation is encouraging. Using the new aerosol retrieval algorithm for multi-angular total and polarized measurements, the spatial and temporal variability of anthropogenic aerosol optical properties over East Asia, which were observed during a heavy polluted event, were analyzed. Exceptionally high values of aerosol optical depth contributed by fine mode of up to 0.5 (at 0.865 μm), and high values of fine-mode fraction of up to 0.9, were observed in this case study.

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Improvement of stratospheric aerosol extinction retrieval from OMPS/LP using a new aerosol model

10.5194/amt-2018-221 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zhong Chen ◽

Pawan K. Bhartia ◽

Robert Loughman ◽

Peter Colarco ◽

Matthew DeLand

Keyword(s):

Size Distribution ◽

Gamma Function ◽

Spectral Dependence ◽

Stratospheric Aerosol ◽

Cumulative Distribution ◽

Aerosol Size Distribution ◽

Retrieval Algorithm ◽

Aerosol Extinction ◽

Aerosol Model ◽

The Impact

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 ~2 km vertical resolution over the entire sunlit globe. Aerosol extinction profiles are computed with Mie theory using radiances measured at 675 nm. The operational Version 1.0 (V1.0) aerosol extinction retrieval algorithm assumes a bimodal lognormal aerosol size distribution (ASD) whose parameters were derived by combining an in situ measurement of aerosol microphysics with the SAGE II aerosol extinction climatology. Internal analysis indicates that this bimodal lognormal ASD does not sufficiently explain the spectral dependence of LP measured radiances. In this paper we describe the derivation of an improved aerosol size distribution, designated Version 1.5 (V1.5), for the LP retrieval algorithm. The new ASD uses a gamma function distribution that is derived from Community Aerosol and Radiation Model for Atmospheres (CARMA) calculated results. A cumulative distribution fit derived from the gamma function ASD gives better agreement with CARMA results at small particle radii than bimodal or unimodal functions. The new ASD also explains the spectral dependence of LP measured radiances better than the V1.0 ASD. We find that the impact of our choice of ASD on the retrieved extinctions varies strongly with the underlying reflectivity of the scene. Initial comparisons with co-located extinction profiles retrieved at 676 nm from the SAGE III/ISS instrument show a significant improvement in agreement for the LP V1.5 retrievals. Zonal mean extinction profiles agree to within 10 % between 19–29 km, and regression fits of collocated samples show improved correlation and reduced scatter compared to the V1.0 product. This improved agreement will motivate development of more sophisticated ASDs from CARMA results that incorporate latitude, altitude, and seasonal variations in aerosol properties.

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