scholarly journals MOPSMAP v1.0: a versatile tool for the modeling of aerosol optical properties

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2739-2762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josef Gasteiger ◽  
Matthias Wiegner
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Fortran Program ◽  
Refractive Indices ◽  
Nonspherical Particles ◽  
Hygroscopic Growth ◽  
Web Interface ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Optical Modeling ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract. The spatiotemporal distribution and characterization of aerosol particles are usually determined by remote-sensing and optical in situ measurements. These measurements are indirect with respect to microphysical properties, and thus inversion techniques are required to determine the aerosol microphysics. Scattering theory provides the link between microphysical and optical properties; it is not only needed for such inversions but also for radiative budget calculations and climate modeling. However, optical modeling can be very time-consuming, in particular if nonspherical particles or complex ensembles are involved. In this paper we present the MOPSMAP package (Modeled optical properties of ensembles of aerosol particles), which is computationally fast for optical modeling even in the case of complex aerosols. The package consists of a data set of pre-calculated optical properties of single aerosol particles, a Fortran program to calculate the properties of user-defined aerosol ensembles, and a user-friendly web interface for online calculations. Spheres, spheroids, and a small set of irregular particle shapes are considered over a wide range of sizes and refractive indices. MOPSMAP provides the fundamental optical properties assuming random particle orientation, including the scattering matrix for the selected wavelengths. Moreover, the output includes tables of frequently used properties such as the single-scattering albedo, the asymmetry parameter, or the lidar ratio. To demonstrate the wide range of possible MOPSMAP applications, a selection of examples is presented, e.g., dealing with hygroscopic growth, mixtures of absorbing and non-absorbing particles, the relevance of the size equivalence in the case of nonspherical particles, and the variability in volcanic ash microphysics. The web interface is designed to be intuitive for expert and nonexpert users. To support users a large set of default settings is available, e.g., several wavelength-dependent refractive indices, climatologically representative size distributions, and a parameterization of hygroscopic growth. Calculations are possible for single wavelengths or user-defined sets (e.g., of specific remote-sensing application). For expert users more options for the microphysics are available. Plots for immediate visualization of the results are shown. The complete output can be downloaded for further applications. All input parameters and results are stored in the user's personal folder so that calculations can easily be reproduced. The web interface is provided at https://mopsmap.net (last access: 9 July 2018) and the Fortran program including the data set is freely available for offline calculations, e.g., when large numbers of different runs for sensitivity studies are to be made.

scholarly journals MOPSMAP v0.9: A versatile tool for modeling of aerosol optical properties

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josef Gasteiger ◽  
Matthias Wiegner
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Optical Properties ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Particle Orientation ◽  
Spherical Particles ◽  
Refractive Indices ◽  
Hygroscopic Growth ◽  
Web Interface ◽  
Optical Modeling ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract. The spatiotemporal distribution and characterization of aerosol particles are usually determined by remote sensing and optical in-situ measurements. These measurements are indirect with respect to microphysical properties and thus inversion techniques are required to determine the aerosol microphysics. Scattering theory provides the link between microphysical and optical properties; it is not only needed for such inversions but also for radiative budget calculations and climate modeling. However, optical modeling can be very time consuming, in particular if non-spherical particles or complex ensembles are involved. In this paper we present the MOPSMAP package (modeled optical properties of ensembles of aerosol particles) which is computationally fast for optical modeling even in case of complex aerosols. The package consists of a data set of pre-calculated optical properties of single aerosol particles, a Fortran program to calculate the properties of user-defined aerosol ensembles, and a user-friendly web interface for online calculations. Spheres, spheroids, and a small set of irregular particle shapes are considered over a wide range of sizes and refractive indices. MOPSMAP provides the fundamental optical properties assuming random particle orientation, including the scattering matrix for the selected wavelengths. Moreover, the output includes tables of frequently used properties such as the single scattering albedo, the asymmetry parameter or the lidar ratio. To demonstrate the wide range of possible MOPSMAP applications a selection of examples is presented, e.g., dealing with hygroscopic growth, mixtures of absorbing and non-absorbing particles, the relevance of the size equivalence in case of non-spherical particles, and the variability of volcanic ash microphysics. The web interface is designed to be intuitive for expert and non-expert users. To support users a large set of default settings is available, e.g., several wavelength-dependent refractive indices, climatologically representative size distributions, and a parameterization of hygroscopic growth. Calculations are possible for single wavelengths or user-defined sets (e.g., of specific remote sensing application). For expert users more options for the microphysics are available. Plots for immediate visualization of the results are shown. The complete output can be downloaded for further applications. All input parameters and results are stored in the user’s personal folder so that calculations can easily be reproduced. The MOPSMAP package is available on request for offline calculations, e.g., when large numbers of different runs for sensitivity studies shall be made.

scholarly journals Aerosol scattering and absorption during the EUCAARI-LONGREX flights of the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) BAe-146: can measurements and models agree?

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (15) ◽  
pp. 7251-7267 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. J. Highwood ◽  
M. J. Northway ◽  
G. R. McMeeking ◽  
W. T. Morgan ◽  
D. Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Mie Scattering ◽  
Chemical Components ◽  
Refractive Indices ◽  
Hygroscopic Growth ◽  
Atmospheric Measurements

Abstract. Scattering and absorption by aerosol in anthropogenically perturbed air masses over Europe has been measured using instrumentation flown on the UK's BAe-146-301 large Atmospheric Research Aircraft (ARA) operated by the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) on 14 flights during the EUCAARI-LONGREX campaign in May 2008. The geographical and temporal variations of the derived shortwave optical properties of aerosol are presented. Values of single scattering albedo of dry aerosol at 550 nm varied considerably from 0.86 to near unity, with a campaign average of 0.93 ± 0.03. Dry aerosol optical depths ranged from 0.030 ± 0.009 to 0.24 ± 0.07. An optical properties closure study comparing calculations from composition data and Mie scattering code with the measured properties is presented. Agreement to within measurement uncertainties of 30% can be achieved for both scattering and absorption, but the latter is shown to be sensitive to the refractive indices chosen for organic aerosols, and to a lesser extent black carbon, as well as being highly dependent on the accuracy of the absorption measurements. Agreement with the measured absorption can be achieved either if organic carbon is assumed to be weakly absorbing, or if the organic aerosol is purely scattering and the absorption measurement is an overestimate due to the presence of large amounts of organic carbon. Refractive indices could not be inferred conclusively due to this uncertainty, despite the enhancement in methodology compared to previous studies that derived from the use of the black carbon measurements. Hygroscopic growth curves derived from the wet nephelometer indicate moderate water uptake by the aerosol with a campaign mean f(RH) value (ratio in scattering) of 1.5 (range from 1.23 to 1.63) at 80% relative humidity. This value is qualitatively consistent with the major chemical components of the aerosol measured by the aerosol mass spectrometer, which are primarily mixed organics and nitrate and some sulphate.

scholarly journals Closure study between chemical composition and hygroscopic growth of aerosol particles during TORCH2

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (24) ◽  
pp. 6131-6144 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Gysel ◽  
J. Crosier ◽  
D. O. Topping ◽  
J. D. Whitehead ◽  
K. N. Bower ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Residence Times ◽  
Hygroscopic Growth ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Composition Data ◽  
The North ◽  
Aerosol Mass ◽  
Hygroscopic Properties ◽  
Evaporation Losses

Abstract. Measurements of aerosol properties were made in aged polluted and clean background air masses encountered at the North Norfolk (UK) coastline as part of the TORCH2 field campaign in May 2004. Hygroscopic growth factors (GF) at 90% relative humidity (RH) for D0=27–217 nm particles and size-resolved chemical composition were simultaneously measured using a Hygroscopicity Tandem Differential Mobility Analyser (HTDMA) and an Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer (Q-AMS), respectively. Both hygroscopic properties and chemical composition showed pronounced variability in time and with particles size. With this data set we could demonstrate that the Zdanovskii-Stokes-Robinson (ZSR) mixing rule combined with chemical composition data from the AMS makes accurate quantitative predictions of the mean GF of mixed atmospheric aerosol particles possible. In doing so it is crucial that chemical composition data are acquired with high resolution in both particle size and time, at least matching the actual variability of particle properties. The closure results indicate an ensemble GF of the organic fraction of ~1.20±0.10 at 90% water activity. Thus the organics contribute somewhat to hygroscopic growth, particularly at small sizes, however the inorganic salts still dominate. Furthermore it has been found that most likely substantial evaporation losses of NH4NO3 occurred within the HTDMA instrument, exacerbated by a long residence time of ~1 min. Such an artefact is in agreement with our laboratory experiments and literature data for pure NH4NO3, both showing similar evaporation losses within HTDMAs with residence times of ~1 min. Short residence times and low temperatures are hence recommended for HTDMAs in order to minimise such evaporation artefacts.

scholarly journals Development of a new semi-empirical parameterization for below-cloud scavenging of size-resolved aerosol particles by both rain and snow

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 5901-5945 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Wang ◽  
L. Zhang ◽  
M. D. Moran
Keyword(s):  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Aerosol Particle ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Particle Sizes ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cloud Scavenging ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
Semi Empirical

Abstract. A parameter called the scavenging coefficient Λ is widely used in aerosol chemical transport models (CTMs) to describe below-cloud scavenging of aerosol particles by rain and snow. However, uncertainties associated with available size-resolved theoretical formulations for Λ span one to two orders of magnitude for rain scavenging and nearly three orders of magnitude for snow scavenging. Two recent reviews of below-cloud scavenging of size-resolved particles recommended that the upper range of the available theoretical formulations for Λ should be used in CTMs based on uncertainty analyses and comparison with limited field experiments. Following this recommended approach, a new semi-empirical parameterization for size-resolved Λ has been developed for below-cloud scavenging of atmospheric aerosol particles by both rain (Λrain) and snow (Λsnow). The new parameterization is based on the 90th percentile of Λ values from an ensemble data set containing calculated using all possible "realizations" of available theoretical Λ formulas and covering a large range of aerosol particle sizes and precipitation intensities (R). For any aerosol particle size of diameter d, a strong linear relationship between the 90th-percentile log10(Λ) and log10(R), which is equivalent to a power-law relationship between Λ and R, is identified. The log-linear relationship, which is characterized by two parameters (slope and y-intercept), is then further parameterized by fitting these two parameters as polynomial functions of aerosol size d. A comparison of the new parameterization with limited measurements in the literature in terms of the magnitude of Λ and the relative magnitudes of Λrain and Λsnow suggests that it is a reasonable approximation. Advantages of this new semi-empirical parameterization compared to traditional theoretical formulations for Λ include its applicability to below-cloud scavenging by both rain and snow over a wide range of particle sizes and precipitation intensities, ease of implementation in any CTM with a representation of size-distributed particulate matter, and a known representativeness based on the consideration in its development of all available theoretical formulations and field-derived estimates for Λ(d) and their associated uncertainties.

scholarly journals Development of a new semi-empirical parameterization for below-cloud scavenging of size-resolved aerosol particles by both rain and snow

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 799-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Wang ◽  
L. Zhang ◽  
M. D. Moran
Keyword(s):  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Aerosol Particle ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Particle Sizes ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cloud Scavenging ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
Semi Empirical

Abstract. A parameter called the scavenging coefficient Λ is widely used in aerosol chemical transport models (CTMs) to describe below-cloud scavenging of aerosol particles by rain and snow. However, uncertainties associated with available size-resolved theoretical formulations for Λ span one to two orders of magnitude for rain scavenging and nearly three orders of magnitude for snow scavenging. Two recent reviews of below-cloud scavenging of size-resolved particles recommended that the upper range of the available theoretical formulations for Λ should be used in CTMs based on uncertainty analyses and comparison with limited field experiments. Following this recommended approach, a new semi-empirical parameterization for size-resolved Λ has been developed for below-cloud scavenging of atmospheric aerosol particles by both rain (Λrain) and snow (Λsnow). The new parameterization is based on the 90th percentile of Λ values from an ensemble data set calculated using all possible "realizations" of available theoretical Λ formulas and covering a large range of aerosol particle sizes and precipitation intensities (R). For any aerosol particle size of diameter d, a strong linear relationship between the 90th-percentile log10 (Λ) and log10 (R), which is equivalent to a power-law relationship between Λ and R, is identified. The log-linear relationship, which is characterized by two parameters (slope and y intercept), is then further parameterized by fitting these two parameters as polynomial functions of aerosol size d. A comparison of the new parameterization with limited measurements in the literature in terms of the magnitude of Λ and the relative magnitudes of Λrain and Λsnow suggests that it is a reasonable approximation. Advantages of this new semi-empirical parameterization compared to traditional theoretical formulations for Λ include its applicability to below-cloud scavenging by both rain and snow over a wide range of particle sizes and precipitation intensities, ease of implementation in any CTM with a representation of size-distributed particulate matter, and a known representativeness, based on the consideration in its development, of all available theoretical formulations and field-derived estimates for Λ (d) and their associated uncertainties.

scholarly journals High-humidity tandem differential mobility analyzer for accurate determination of aerosol hygroscopic growth, microstructure, and activity coefficients over a wide range of relative humidity

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2035-2056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene F. Mikhailov ◽  
Sergey S. Vlasenko
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factors ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Activity Coefficients ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
High Humidity ◽  
Optimal Parameters ◽  
Hygroscopic Growth ◽  
Average Deviation ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract. Interactions with water are crucial for the properties, transformation, and climate effects of atmospheric aerosols. Here we present the high-humidity tandem differential hygroscopicity analyzer (HHTDMA) and a new method to measure the hygroscopic growth of aerosol particles with in situ restructuring to minimize the influence of particle shape. With this approach, growth factors can be measured with an uncertainty of 0.3 %–0.9 % over a relative humidity (RH) range of 2 %–99.6 % and with an RH measurement accuracy better than 0.4 %. The HHTDMA instrument can be used in hydration, dehydration, and restructuring modes of operation. The restructuring mode allows us to investigate the effects of drying conditions on the initial microstructure of aerosol particles and specifies the optimal parameters that provide their rearrangements into compact structures with a nearly spherical shape. These optimal parameters were used in hygroscopic growth experiments by combining the restructuring mode with a conventional hydration or dehydration mode. The tandem of two modes allowed us to measure the particle growth factors with high precision as well as to determine the thickness of the water adsorption layer on the surface of compact crystalline particles. To verify the HHTDMA instrument we compared the measured ammonium sulfate growth factors with those obtained from the E-AIM-based Köhler model (E-AIM: Extended Aerosol Inorganics Model). Averaged over the range of 38 %–96 % RH, the mean relative deviations between measurements and model results is less than 0.5 %. We demonstrate this precision by presenting data for glucose, for which bulk thermodynamic coefficients are available. The HHTDMA-derived activity coefficients of water and glucose were obtained for both dilute and supersaturated solutions and are in good agreement with those reported in the literature. The average deviation between the measured activity coefficients and those obtained by the bulk method is less than 4 %. For dilute solution in water with an activity range of 0.98–0.99, the hygroscopicity parameter of glucose and the molal osmotic coefficient were obtained with an uncertainty of 0.4 % and 2.5 %, respectively.

scholarly journals High humidity tandem differential mobility analyzer for accurate determination of aerosol hygroscopic growth, microstructure and activity coefficients over a wide range of relative humidity

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene F. Mikhailov ◽  
Sergey S. Vlasenko
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factors ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Activity Coefficients ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
Spherical Shape ◽  
High Humidity ◽  
Optimal Parameters ◽  
Hygroscopic Growth ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract. Interactions with water are crucial for the properties, transformation and climate effects of atmospheric aerosols. Here we present high humidity tandem differential hygroscopicity analyzer (HHTDMA) and a new method to measure the hygroscopic growth of aerosol particles with in-situ restructuring to minimize the influence of particle shape. With this approach, growth factors can be measured with an uncertainty 0.3–0.9 % over a relative humidity (RH) range of 2–99.6 % and with an RH measurement accuracy better than 0.4 %. The HHTDMA instrument can be used in hydration, dehydration and restructuring modes of operation. The restructuring mode allows to investigate the effects of drying conditions on the initial microstructure of aerosol particles and specified the optimal parameters that provide their rearrangements into compact structures with near-spherical shape. These optimal parameters were then used in hygroscopic growth experiments by combining restructuring mode with conventional hydration or dehydration mode. The tandem of two modes allowed us to measure the particle growth factors with high precision as well as to determine the thickness of the water adsorption layer on the surface of compact crystalline particles. To verify HHTDMA instrument we compared the measured ammonium sulfate growth factors with these obtained from E-AIM-based Köhler model. Averaged over the range of 38–96 % RH, the mean relative deviations between measurement and model results is less than 0.5 %. We demonstrate this precision by presenting data for glucose for which bulk thermodynamic coefficients are available. The HHTDMA-derived activity coefficients of water and glucose were obtained for both dilute and supersaturated solutions and are in a good agreement with these reported in literature. Averaged deviation between the measured activity coefficients and these obtained by bulk method is less than 4 %. For dilute solution in water activity range of 0.98–0.99 the hygroscopicity parameter of glucose and molal osmotic coefficient were obtained with uncertainty of 0.4 % and 2.5 %, respectively.

scholarly journals Four-dimensional distribution of the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull volcanic cloud over Europe observed by EARLINET

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4429-4450 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Pappalardo ◽  
L. Mona ◽  
G. D'Amico ◽  
U. Wandinger ◽  
M. Adam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Optical Data ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Volcanic Event ◽  
The Balkans ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Volcanic Cloud ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull in April–May 2010 represents a "natural experiment" to study the impact of volcanic emissions on a continental scale. For the first time, quantitative data about the presence, altitude, and layering of the volcanic cloud, in conjunction with optical information, are available for most parts of Europe derived from the observations by the European Aerosol Research Lidar NETwork (EARLINET). Based on multi-wavelength Raman lidar systems, EARLINET is the only instrument worldwide that is able to provide dense time series of high-quality optical data to be used for aerosol typing and for the retrieval of particle microphysical properties as a function of altitude. In this work we show the four-dimensional (4-D) distribution of the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic cloud in the troposphere over Europe as observed by EARLINET during the entire volcanic event (15 April–26 May 2010). All optical properties directly measured (backscatter, extinction, and particle linear depolarization ratio) are stored in the EARLINET database available at http://www.earlinet.org. A specific relational database providing the volcanic mask over Europe, realized ad hoc for this specific event, has been developed and is available on request at http://www.earlinet.org. During the first days after the eruption, volcanic particles were detected over Central Europe within a wide range of altitudes, from the upper troposphere down to the local planetary boundary layer (PBL). After 19 April 2010, volcanic particles were detected over southern and south-eastern Europe. During the first half of May (5–15 May), material emitted by the Eyjafjallajökull volcano was detected over Spain and Portugal and then over the Mediterranean and the Balkans. The last observations of the event were recorded until 25 May in Central Europe and in the Eastern Mediterranean area. The 4-D distribution of volcanic aerosol layering and optical properties on European scale reported here provides an unprecedented data set for evaluating satellite data and aerosol dispersion models for this kind of volcanic events.

Optical Properties of HVEM Accelerators

1975 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 180-181
Author(s):  
A. Strojnik ◽  
J.W. Scholl ◽  
V. Bevc
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Electron Accelerator ◽  
Systematic Investigation ◽  
Electron Source ◽  
High Brightness ◽  
The Past ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Optical Behavior

The electron accelerator, as inserted between the electron source (injector) and the imaging column of the HVEM, is usually a strong lens and should be optimized in order to ensure high brightness over a wide range of accelerating voltages and illuminating conditions. This is especially true in the case of the STEM where the brightness directly determines the highest resolution attainable. In the past, the optical behavior of accelerators was usually determined for a particular configuration. During the development of the accelerator for the Arizona 1 MEV STEM, systematic investigation was made of the major optical properties for a variety of electrode configurations, number of stages N, accelerating voltages, 1 and 10 MEV, and a range of injection voltages ϕ0 = 1, 3, 10, 30, 100, 300 kV).

Ab initio calculation on the Optical Properties of AA- Stacked two dimensional Graphene, Silicene, Germanene, and Stanene

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-50
Author(s):  
Rita John ◽  
Benita Merlin
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Band Structure ◽  
Density Functional ◽  
Electronic Band Structure ◽  
Complex Refractive Index ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Generalized Gradient ◽  
Electronic Band ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Optical Region

In this study, we have analyzed the electronic band structure and optical properties of AA-stacked bilayer graphene and its 2D analogues and compared the results with single layers. The calculations have been done using Density Functional Theory with Generalized Gradient Approximation as exchange correlation potential as in CASTEP. The study on electronic band structure shows the splitting of valence and conduction bands. A band gap of 0.342eV in graphene and an infinitesimally small gap in other 2D materials are generated. Similar to a single layer, AA-stacked bilayer materials also exhibit excellent optical properties throughout the optical region from infrared to ultraviolet. Optical properties are studied along both parallel (||) and perpendicular ( ) polarization directions. The complex dielectric function (ε) and the complex refractive index (N) are calculated. The calculated values of ε and N enable us to analyze optical absorption, reflectivity, conductivity, and the electron loss function. Inferences from the study of optical properties are presented. In general the optical properties are found to be enhanced compared to its corresponding single layer. The further study brings out greater inferences towards their direct application in the optical industry through a wide range of the optical spectrum.

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