The impacts of optical properties on radiative forcing due to dust aerosol

There are large uncertainties in the quantitative assessment of radiative effects due to atmospheric dust aerosol. The optical properties contribute much to those uncertainties. The authors perform several sensitivity experiments to estimate the impacts of optical characteristics on regional radiative forcing in this paper. The experiments involve in refractive indices, single scattering aibedo, asymmetry factor and optical depth. An updated dataset of refractive indices representing East Asian dust and the one recommended by the World Meteorology Organization （WMO） are contrastively analyzed and used. A radiative transfer code for solar and thermal infrared radiation with detailed aerosol parameterization is employed. The strongest emphasis is on the refractive indices since other optical parameters strongly depend on it, and the authors found a strong sensitivity of radiative forcing on refractive indices. Studies show stronger scattering, weaker absorption and forward scattering of the East Asian dust particles at solar wavelengths, which leads to higher negative forcing, lower positive forcing and bigger net forcing at the top of the atmosphere （TOA） than that of the WMO dust model. It is also found that the TOA forcings resulting from these two dust models have opposite signs in certain regions, which implies the importance of accurate measurements of optical properties in the quantitative estimation of radiative forcing.     

Assessment of Individual Direct Radiative Effects of Major Aerosol Species in East Asia

To assess individual direct radiative effects of diverse aerosol species on a regional scale,the air quality modeling system RAMS-CMAQ(Regional Atmospheric Modeling System and Community Multiscale Air Quality) coupled with an aerosol optical properties/radiative transfer module was used to simulate the temporal and spatial distributions of their optical and radiative properties over East Asia throughout 2005.Annual and seasonal averaged aerosol direct radiative forcing(ADRF) of all important aerosols and individual components,such as sulfate,nitrate,ammonium,black carbon(BC),organic carbon(OC),and dust at top-of-atmosphere(TOA) in clear sky are analyzed.Analysis of the model results shows that the annual average ADRF of all important aerosols was in the range of 0 to-18 W m?2,with the maximum values mainly distributed over the Sichuan Basin.The direct radiative effects of sulfate,nitrate,and ammonium make up most of the total ADRF in East Asia,being concentrated mainly over North and Southeast China.The model domain is also divided into seven regions based on different administrative regions or countries to investigate detailed information about regional ADRF variations over East Asia.The model results show that the ADRFs of sulfate,ammonium,BC,and OC were stronger in summer and weaker in winter over most regions of East Asia,except over Southeast Asia.The seasonal variation in the ADRF of nitrate exhibited the opposite trend.A strong ADRF of dust mainly appeared in spring over Northwest China and Mongolia.     

关于硝酸盐气溶胶光学特征和辐射强迫的研究进展

在过去的20多年里,中外对硫酸盐气溶胶做了大量的研究,对它在大气中的排放、含量、光学特征和辐射强迫有了深入的认识;由于硝酸盐气溶胶在大气中平均含量比硫酸盐低很多,因此过去人们对硝酸盐的研究没有给予重视。然而,近年来的研究表明,硝酸盐气溶胶的散射性质在某些波段甚至强于硫酸盐;同时,由于未来对人为硫酸盐前体物的减排,硫酸盐气溶胶排放会大幅度减少,而硝酸盐气溶胶的排放却增长迅速,其在人为气溶胶中所占的比重越来越高,将会导致其在未来造成的辐射强迫有可能超过硫酸盐,使得其在地区范围内和季节尺度上成为重要的辐射强迫和气候影响因子。中国是硝酸盐气溶胶排放量较大的地区,硝酸盐对未来中国气候和气候变化的影响显得越来越重要。因此,就近年来有关硝酸盐气溶胶的排放和在大气中的浓度变化、光学厚度分布特征及其辐射强迫的研究进展做了回顾和介绍,并对其未来的研究做了展望。     

Optical,Radiative and Chemical Characteristics of Aerosol in Changsha City,Central China

Industrial pollution has a significant effect on aerosol properties in Changsha City, a typical city of central China. Therefore, year-round measurements of aerosol optical, radiative and chemical properties from 2012 to 2014 at an urban site in Changsha were analyzed. During the observation period, the energy structure was continuously optimized, which was characterized by the reduction of coal combustion. The aerosol properties have obvious seasonal variations. The seasonal average aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 500 nm ranged from 0.49 to 1.00, single scattering albedo (SSA) ranged from 0.93 to 0.97, and aerosol radiative forcing at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) ranged from ?24.0 to 3.8 W m^?2. The chemical components also showed seasonal variations. Meanwhile, the scattering aerosol, such as organic carbon, SO₄^2?, NO₃^?, and NH₄⁺ showed a decrease, and elemental carbon increased. Compared with observation in winter 2012, AOD and TOA decreased by 0.14 and ?1.49 W m^?2 in winter 2014. The scattering components, SO₄^2?, NO₃^? and NH₄⁺, decreased by 12.8 μg m^?3 (56.8%), 9.2 μg m^?3 (48.8%) and 6.4 μg m^?3 (45.2%), respectively. The atmospheric visibility and pollution diffusion conditions improved. The extinction and radiative forcing of aerosol were significantly controlled by the scattering aerosol. The results indicate that Changsha is an industrial city with strong scattering aerosol. The energy structure optimization had a marked effect on controlling pollution, especially in winter (strong scattering aerosol).     

A Review of Aerosol Optical Properties and Radiative Effects

Atmospheric aerosols influence the earth's radiative balance directly through scattering and absorbing solar radiation, and indirectly through affecting cloud properties. An understanding of aerosol optical properties is fundamental to studies of aerosol effects on climate. Although many such studies have been undertaken, large uncertainties in describing aerosol optical characteristics remain, especially regarding the absorption properties of different aerosols. Aerosol radiative effects are considered as either positive or negative perturbations to the radiation balance, and they include direct, indirect (albedo effect and cloud lifetime effect), and semi-direct effects. The total direct effect of anthropogenic aerosols is negative (cooling), although some components may contribute a positive effect (warming). Both the albedo effect and cloud lifetime effect cool the atmosphere by increasing cloud optical depth and cloud cover, respectively. Absorbing aerosols, such as carbonaceous aerosols and dust, exert a positive forcing at the top of atmosphere and a negative forcing at the surface, and they can directly warm the atmosphere. Internally mixed black carbon aerosols produce a stronger warming effect than externally mixed black carbon particles do. The semi-direct effect of absorbing aerosols could amplify this warming effect. Based on observational (ground-and satellite-based) and simulation studies, this paper reviews current progress in research regarding the optical properties and radiative effects of aerosols and also discusses several important issues to be addressed in future studies.     

Model analysis of influences of aerosol mixing state upon its optical properties in East Asia

The air quality model system RAMS (Regional Atmospheric Modeling System)-CMAQ (Models-3 Community Multi-scale Air Quality) coupled with an aerosol optical/radiative module was applied to investigate the impact of different aerosol mixing states (i.e., externally mixed, half externally and half internally mixed, and internally mixed) on radiative forcing in East Asia. The simulation results show that the aerosol optical depth (AOD) generally increased when the aerosol mixing state changed from externally mixed to internally mixed, while the single scattering albedo (SSA) decreased. Therefore, the scattering and absorption properties of aerosols can be significantly affected by the change of aerosol mixing states. Comparison of simulated and observed SSAs at five AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) sites suggests that SSA could be better estimated by considering aerosol particles to be internally mixed. Model analysis indicates that the impact of aerosol mixing state upon aerosol direct radiative forcing (DRF) is complex. Generally, the cooling effect of aerosols over East Asia are enhanced in the northern part of East Asia (Northern China, Korean peninsula, and the surrounding area of Japan) and are reduced in the southern part of East Asia (Sichuan Basin and Southeast China) by internal mixing process, and the variation range can reach 5 W m－2. The analysis shows that the internal mixing between inorganic salt and dust is likely the main reason that the cooling effect strengthens. Conversely, the internal mixture of anthropogenic aerosols, including sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, black carbon, and organic carbon, could obviously weaken the cooling effect.     

Effect of particle shape on dust shortwave direct radiative forcing calculations based on MODIS observations for a case study

Assuming spheroidal and spherical particle shapes for mineral dust aerosols, the effect of particle shape on dust aerosol optical depth retrievals, and subsequently on instantaneous shortwave direct radiative forcing (SWDRF) at the top of the atmosphere (TOA), is assessed based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data for a case study. Specifically, a simplified aerosol retrieval algorithm based on the principle of the Deep Blue aerosol retrieval method is employed to retrieve dust aerosol optical depths, and the Fu-Liou radiative transfer model is used to derive the instantaneous SWDRF of dust at the TOA for cloud-free conditions. Without considering the effect of particle shape on dust aerosol optical depth retrievals, the effect of particle shape on the scattering properties of dust aerosols (e.g., extinction efficiency, single scattering albedo and asymmetry factor) is negligible, which can lead to a relative difference of at most 5% for the SWDRF at the TOA. However, the effect of particle shape on the SWDRF cannot be neglected provided that the effect of particle shape on dust aerosol optical depth retrievals is also taken into account for SWDRF calculations. The corresponding results in an instantaneous case study show that the relative differences of the SWDRF at the TOA between spheroids and spheres depend critically on the scattering angles at which dust aerosol optical depths are retrieved, and can be up to 40% for low dust-loading conditions.     

基于国际大气化学-气候模式比较计划模式数据评估中国沙尘气溶胶直接辐射强迫

目前气候模式对沙尘气溶胶直接辐射强迫模拟仍有很大不确定性,多模式对比有助于定量评估不确定范围。国际大气化学—气候模式比较计划（Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate Model Intercomparison Project,ACCMIP）旨在评估当前模式对短寿命大气成分辐射强迫和气候效应的模拟能力。基于7个ACCMIP模式模拟的中国地区沙尘气溶胶浓度,我们评估了中国区域沙尘气溶胶直接辐射强迫和不确定性范围。结果显示,中国区域沙尘气溶胶年排放总量为215±163 Tg a-1,区域年均地表浓度为41±27 μg m-3,柱浓度为9±4 kg m-2,光学厚度为0.09±0.05。中国区域年均沙尘气溶胶产生的大气顶短波、长波和总辐射强迫分别为-1.3±0.8 W m-2、0.7±0.4 W m-2和-0.5±0.7 W m-2;地表短波、长波和总的辐射强迫值为-1.5±1.0 W m-2、1.8±0.9 W m-2和0.2±0.2 W m-2。沙尘气溶胶长波辐射强迫对沙尘浓度的垂直分布敏感。高层沙尘气溶胶浓度越大,其在大气顶产生更强的正值长波辐射强迫。然而,沙尘气溶胶短波辐射强迫主要受整层沙尘柱浓度控制,对沙尘浓度的垂直分布较不敏感。本文结果可为中国沙尘气溶胶的气候模拟提供参考。     

Grid-cell Aerosol Direct Shortwave Radiative Forcing Calculated Using the SBDART Model with MODIS and AERONET Observations:An Application in Winter and Summer in Eastern China

Taking winter and summer in eastern China as an example application, a grid-cell method of aerosol direct radiative forcing(ADRF) calculation is examined using the Santa Barbara DISORT Atmospheric Radiative Transfer(SBDART) model with inputs from MODIS and AERONET observations and reanalysis data. Results show that there are significant seasonal and regional differences in climatological mean aerosol optical parameters and ADRF. Higher aerosol optical depth(AOD)occurs in summer and two prominent high aerosol loading centers are observed. Higher single scattering albedo(SSA) in summer is likely associated with the weak absorbing secondary aerosols. SSA is higher in North China during summer but higher in South China during winter. Aerosols induce negative forcing at the top of the atmosphere(TOA) and surface during both winter and summer, which may be responsible for the decrease in temperature and the increase in relative humidity.Values of ADRF at the surface are four times stronger than those at the TOA. Both AOD and ADRF present strong interannual variations; however, their amplitudes are larger in summer. Moreover, patterns and trends of ADRF do not always correspond well to those of AOD. Differences in the spatial distributions of ADRF between strong and weak monsoon years are captured effectively. Generally, the present results justify that to calculate grid-cell ADRF at a large scale using the SBDART model with observational aerosol optical properties and reanalysis data is an effective approach.     

黑碳气溶胶对我国区域气候影响的数值模拟

利用区域气候模式RegCM3模拟研究了黑碳气溶胶对我国区域气候的影响。以2000年1、4、7、10月为代表,计算分析了黑碳气溶胶的辐射强迫作用、对大气温度和降水的影响及其季节变化特征。模拟结果显示：黑碳气溶胶在大气层顶产生正的辐射强迫,在地表产生负的辐射强迫;黑碳气溶胶的加入使中国大陆地区地面温度发生明显变化,并呈现显著的季节特征,即1月大部分地区的地面温度均有升高;7月北方增温、南方降温;4月和10月地面温度的变化不明显。模拟结果也表明,黑碳气溶胶的排放使我国长江中下游等南方地区夏季降水增加,而北方部分地区降水减少。     

青藏高原地区气溶胶直接辐射强迫的数值模拟研究

通过比较EMAC模式模拟结果和卫星观测结果证实了模式的可信性,进而利用模拟结果分析研究了2010～2012年青藏高原上空气溶胶光学厚度及其直接辐射强迫的时空分布规律。结果表明:所有气溶胶组分中,沙尘、水溶性气溶胶和气溶胶中液态水是高原的主要消光物质,三者年平均消光占比分别为0.27、0.20和0.49。2011年夏季纳布罗火山爆发,高空气溶胶消光在海拔14 km以上显著增强。青藏高原气溶胶在大气顶和地表的直接辐射强迫分布总体上由北向南递减,沙尘气溶胶在高原北部边缘大气顶产生正辐射强迫,气溶胶大气层直接辐射强迫对大气有增温效应,主要出现在沙尘含量高的地区。此外,受纳布罗火山爆发的影响,平流层气溶胶在2011年秋、冬季产生了明显较强的负辐射强迫,相比于无火山爆发的2010年和 2012年,青藏高原上空平流层气溶胶负辐射强迫在2011年秋季和冬季分别增加了55.50%和52.38%。     

中国地区春季沙尘气溶胶短波辐射气候效应数值模拟研究

利用耦合了起沙模型(MEDM)的区域气候模式RegCM3,模拟研究了2000年春季中国地区沙尘气溶胶短波辐射气候效应。结果表明,春季中国沙尘气溶胶垂直负荷的大值区主要位于南疆盆地和阿拉善高原。引入沙尘气溶胶后,中国地区地表均出现负的辐射强迫,地面气温普遍降低,中低层(400 hPa层以下)大气温度则呈上升趋势。沙尘源区及其下游地区总云量及降水主要呈减少趋势,云量与降水的分布特征与空中流场的变化趋势一致性较好。     

近年来大气遥感研究进展

本文着重介绍中国科学院大气物理研究所2003年以来在大气遥感研究方面的主要进展与成果,内容包括:(1)遥感技术与设备的发展;(2)大气气溶胶遥感;(3)云遥感;(4)大气微量气体遥感;(5)反演方法发展;(6)大气辐射传输算法研究。气溶胶的光学特性遥感研究是近年来热点之一,本文简要论述在气溶胶光学特性地基和卫星遥感反演算法、中国大气气溶胶光学特性时空分布特性、气溶胶辐射强迫遥感研究等方面所取得的成果。     

基于CMIP6强迫模拟分析人为气溶胶的气候效应(二)——诊断方法在分类评估中的重要性

对气溶胶气候效应开展分类评估并探讨诊断方法的合理性。人为气溶胶辐射效应对计算云辐射强迫的影响为0.38 W·m~(-2)。诊断评估气溶胶对云辐射强迫的影响需要排除这个偏差。两种基于不同试验设计诊断得出的半直接效应分别为0.21和0.09 W·m~(-2),存在显著差异。主要原因可能是人为气溶胶影响云辐射强迫的不同机制之间在模式模拟过程中不断地相互交织,不是简单的线性叠加关系。模式诊断得出的Twomey效应不仅包括Twomey效应本身,还包括Twomey效应引起的部分快速调整。总之,利用模式评估分析人为气溶胶气候效应需要注意审查试验设计和诊断方法的合理性。     

大气气溶胶研究的前沿问题

从4个方面对大气气溶胶研究的前沿问题作了总结和分析：气溶胶的基本特征、气溶胶的气候效应、沙尘气溶胶以及气溶胶对健康环境的影响。介绍了当前国际上有关的大气气溶胶研究计划,讨论了未来大气气溶胶研究的主要领域及研究方向。     

利用激光雷达观测兰州沙尘气溶胶辐射特性

利用微脉冲激光雷达CE370-2与太阳光度计CE-318, 在兰州观测分析了2007年3月27~29日扬沙过程沙尘气溶胶辐射特性, 并利用HYSPLIT-4模式分析了沙尘过程气溶胶粒子的后向轨迹。分析表明, 此沙尘过程气溶胶粒子的传输路径主要有两条： 一条起源于青海西北经西宁抵兰州, 另一条起源于塔克拉玛干沙漠经河西走廊抵兰州; 沙尘气溶胶主要集中于离地1.5 km高度层内; 沙尘气溶胶消光系数随高度先增加, 到0.2 km左右高度达到最大, 然后急剧减小。沙尘气溶胶光学厚度的时间演变呈双峰型, 最高峰出现在28日12:00, 次高峰在27日22:00。验证表明由CE370-2得到的气溶胶光学厚度与CE-318得到的很接近; 雷达观测资料的处理方法可以较好地反演气溶胶消光系数和光学厚度。     

Seasonal and spatial variation of radiative effects of anthropogenic sulfate aerosol

On the basis of the emission data of the industrial sulphur dioxide (SO2) and observed climate fields over East Asia, the distribution of anthropogenic sulfate aerosol (SO) with seasonal variation in the troposphere is simulated and analyzed by a regional sulfur transport model, and the direct radiative effects of SO under different weather conditions are also calculated using the discrete ordinate method. The results show that the concentration of SO has significant seasonal and spatial variations resulting from the effects of SO2 emission source and precipita-tion and wind fields. Both the concentration of SO2 and its radiative forcing have the largest values in October and the lowest in July. SO causes the decrease of the radiation flux absorbed by earth-atmosphere and the cooling of air temperature by scattering more solar radiation back into space. Besides, the radiative and climatic effects of SO are related to the types and height and optical thickness, etc., of the clouds.     

IMPACT OF DESERT DUST ON THE EAST ASIAN SUMMER MONSOON

The radiative forcing (RF) of Asian desert dust and its regional feedbacks to the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) system are investigated with a coupled regional climate-desert dust model. The statistical significance of desert dust effects are analyzed through 20 summer seasons (1990-2009). In order to estimate the dust effects reasonably, some improvement has been achieved for the coupled model, including the updates of optical properties and desert source area distribution. We find that the desert dust can result in a roughly weakened monsoon in eastern China, Korean Peninsula, Japan and Indian Peninsula and a strengthened monsoon in Indochina Peninsula in the lower troposphere. Moreover, the precipitation comparisons between observational data and simulated patterns are also suggestive of the desert dust effect on the EASM. In the upper troposphere, the southward shift of the westerly jet (WJ) by the dust effect can be seen as an indicator of the weakened monsoon in great part of the monsoon areas. The change of the moist static energy (MSE) contrast between land and ocean is the main reason for the EASM variations.     

沙尘气溶胶辐射强迫全球分布的模拟研究

为了定景了解沙尘气溶胶对气候的影响,文中利用一个改进的辐射传输模式,结合伞球气溶胶数据集(G-ADS),计算了晴空条件下,冬夏两季沙尘气溶胶的直接辐射强迫在对流层顶和地面的全球分布,并讨论了云对沙尘气溶胶辐射强迫的影响.计算结果表明,对北半球冬季和夏季而言,在对流层顶沙尘气溶胶的全球短波辐射强迫的平均值分别为-0.477和-0.501 W/m2;长波辐射强迫分别为0.11和0.085 W/m2;全球平均短波地面辐射强迫冬夏两季分别为-1.362和-1.559 W/m2;长波辐射强迫分别为0.274和0.23 W/m2.沙尘气溶胶在对流层顶和地面的负辐射强迫的绝对值郁随太阳天顶角的余弦和地表反照率的增加而增大;地表反照率对沙尘气溶胶辐射强迫的强度和分布都有重要影响.研究指出:云对沙尘气溶胶的直接辐射强迫的影响不仅取决于云量,而且取决于云的高度和云水路径,以及地面反照率和太阳高度角等综合因素.中云和低云对沙尘气溶胶在对流层顶的短波辐射强迫的影响比高云明显.云的存在都使对流层顶长波辐射强迫减少,其中低云的影响最为明显.因此,在估算沙尘气溶胶总的直接辐射强迫时,云的贡献不可忽视.     

利用MODIS-GOCART气溶胶资料研究中国东部地区气溶胶直接辐射强迫

利用MODIS-GOCART同化的2001年逐月气溶胶光学厚度资料，在修改区域气候模式RegCM2辐射方案的基础上，连续积分5年获得平均的中国东部地区气溶胶短波和长波直接辐射效应，并通过数值试验研究了气溶胶垂直分布对辐射强迫及其气候响应的影响。结果表明：气溶胶的短波辐射效应能冷却地表、加热大气；长波辐射效应能加热地表、冷却大气；大气顶净辐射强迫年平均为-4．1W／m^2；辐射强迫绝对值在春季最大，夏季次之，冬季最小；模拟区域中最大辐射强迫值主要位于华北、华南地区及四川盆地；气溶胶垂直分布是影响气溶胶辐射强迫的重要因素。总体上气溶胶层越靠近地面，大气顶辐射强迫绝对值越大，地表辐射强迫绝对值越小，大气顶辐射强迫对垂直分布较敏感；气候系统的反馈作用会放大气溶胶垂直分布对辐射气候效应的影响。