Aerosol optical properties and its radiative forcing over Yulin,China in 2001 and 2002

The aerosol optical properties and direct radiative forcing over the Mu Us desert of northern China, acquired through a CE318 sunphotometer of the ground-based Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET), are analyzed. The seasonal variations in the aerosol optical properties are examined. The effect of meteorological elements (pressure, temperature, water vapor pressure, relative humidity and wind speed) on the aerosol optical properties is also studied. Then, the sources and optical properties under two different cases, a dust event and a pollution event, are compared. The results show that the high aerosol optical depth (AOD) found in Yulin was mostly attributed to the occurrence of dust events in spring from the Mu Us desert and deserts of West China and Mongolia, as well as the impacts of anthropogenic pollutant particles from the middle part of China in the other seasons. The seasonal variation and the probability distribution of the radiative forcing and the radiative forcing efficiency at the surface and the top of the atmosphere are analyzed and regressed using the linear and Gaussian regression methods.     

生物质燃烧输送对青藏高原气溶胶光学辐射特性的影响研究

利用青藏高原拉萨(Lhasa)和珠峰(QOMS_CAS)站点地基CE 318太阳光度计观测数据，研究了2012年4月2日至4月5日一次生物质燃烧输送对青藏高原气溶胶光学和辐射特性的影响；并结合卫星遥感产品以及后向轨迹模式分析了本次生物质燃烧输送的可能来源。结果表明：本次气溶胶污染期间Lhasa和QOMS_CAS站点的主要气溶胶类型变为生物质燃烧气溶胶，气溶胶粒子的消光性增大(气溶胶光学厚度(AOD)增大，Lhasa和QOMS_CAS站点AOD最大值分别为0.4和0.29)，尺度减小(消光波长指数(EAE)>1.5)，吸收性增大(吸收波长指数(AAE)>1.3)，细模态粒子体积浓度增大，而细模态粒子峰值半径减小。气溶胶辐射强迫表明此次输送过程使得Lhasa和QOMS_CAS站点的气溶胶对大气顶和地表的降温作用增强，对大气的增温作用也增强。生物质燃烧输送的可能来源为南亚的印度东北部，尼泊尔与不丹地区。     

An operational MODIS aerosol retrieval algorithm at high spatial resolution,and its application over a complex urban region

Aerosol retrieval algorithms for the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) have been developed to estimate aerosol and microphysical properties of the atmosphere, which help to address aerosol climatic issues at global scale. However, higher spatial resolution aerosol products for urban areas have not been well-researched mainly due to the difficulty of differentiating aerosols from bright surfaces in urban areas. Here, an aerosol retrieval algorithm using the MODIS 500-m resolution bands is described, to retrieve aerosol properties over Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region. The rationale of our technique is to first estimate the aerosol reflectances by decomposing the top-of-atmosphere reflectances from surface reflectances and Rayleigh path reflectances. For the determination of surface reflectances, a Minimum Reflectance Technique (MRT) is used, and MRT images are computed for different seasons. For conversion of aerosol reflectance to aerosol optical thickness (AOT), comprehensive Look Up Tables specific to the local region are constructed, which consider aerosol properties and sun-viewing geometry in the radiative transfer calculations. Four local aerosol types, namely coastal urban, polluted urban, dust, and heavy pollution, were derived using cluster analysis on 3 years of AERONET measurements in Hong Kong. The resulting 500 m AOT images were found to be highly correlated with ground measurements from the AERONET (r² = 0.767) and Microtops II sunphotometers (r² = 0.760) in Hong Kong. This study further demonstrates the application of the fine resolution AOT images for monitoring inter-urban and intra-urban aerosol distributions and the influence of trans-boundary flows. These applications include characterization of spatial patterns of AOT within the city, and detection of regional biomass burning sources.     

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.     

边界层温度廓线遥感反演的本地化改进研究

采用MODIS资料和美国发展的MODIS大气温、湿度廓线统计反演算法,估算大气温度、湿度廓线作为初始场,应用101层快速透过率模式(PFAAST)估算了大气透过率,并采用Newton非线性迭代算法反演中国西北荒漠戈壁地区大气温度廓线。结果表明:该方法对边界层高度及以上部分的大气温度反演得比较好,误差基本都在2 K范围内,边界层范围内的温度反演误差较大,反演误差与气溶胶光学厚度增量和地表温度估算误差呈显著正相关关系,与大气水汽混合比的关系较差。文中从敏感性试验和理论分析角度阐述了地表温度和气溶胶光学厚度估算误差对大气温度反演误差的影响,发现不同光谱波段的地表温度权重均随地表温度的增加有不同程度增加,地表温度反演误差增加将增加地表温度权重,提高地表温度估算误差有助于提高地表温度权重的精度;荒漠戈壁地区大气边界层中气溶胶浓度较高,光学厚度较大,使边界层大气透过率降低,进而降低卫星红外遥感波段的地表温度权重和空气温度权重。由于该模式没有很好地考虑边界层中沙尘气溶胶的影响,使卫星反演的大气透过率偏高,以至于高估地表温度权重和大气温度权重,使得反演的表面温度和空气温度偏低。该研究结合太阳光度计获得的光学厚度资料,采用统计方法对气溶胶效应引起的大气透过率误差和表面温度估算误差进行校正,并对物理算法进行本地化改进,实现了边界层温度廓线的反演。     

On Eastern Asian Dust Storm

In this paper, the characteristics of eastern Asian dust storm are examined with emphasis on the satellite measurements of aerosol optical thickness. The reflectivity of solar radiation from the earth’s atmosphere depends on the optical thickness. The satellite measurement of radiance of sunlight, scattered by the earth and its atmosphere, is used to derive the properties of aerosol on oceanic surfaces. This paper involves the following: (1) investigation of the measurement of dust storm over the oceanic surface by GMS satellite; (2) investigation of the measurement of dust storm over the land surface by ground-based instruments such as actinometer, lidar, etc.; (3) for comparison, de-riving an atmospheric aerosol size distribution over the oceanic surface of calm weather through measurements of NOAA satellite; and (4) the weather process and its mass load of eastern Asian dust storm.     

利用多角度POLDER偏振资料实现陆地上空大气气溶胶光学厚度和地表反照率的同时反演 I. 理论与模拟

陆地上空标量辐射对地表反射率和大气气溶胶散射都具有很强的敏感性,而偏振反射只对大气气溶胶敏感,对地表不敏感。根据这个原理并结合POLDER(POLarization and Directionality of Earth Reflectance)资料的特点,作者提出综合利用标量辐射和偏振反射信息来实现陆地上空大气气溶胶和地表反照率的同时反演。首先,利用多角度偏振辐射观测提取大气气溶胶光学参数,再利用标量辐射测量对偏振反演结果作进一步筛选和订正,同时获得地表反射率。数值模拟试验结果证明,仅利用偏振信息只能获取大气气溶胶信息,而且其结果误差较大,特别是对于散射作用较强的短波长通道如670 nm误差更大,但经过标量辐射订正后的结果得到明显改善,气溶胶光学厚度和地表反射率与真实值之间相关系数都达到0.99以上。为提高查找表的计算效率,提出并建立了反演方案所需要的半参数化数值表,利用内插方法寻求气溶胶光学厚度和地表反射率的数值解的反演方法。     

The effects of the Arctic haze as determined from airborne radiometric measurements during AGASP II

The interaction of the Aretic winter aerosol (Arctic haze) with solar radiation produces changes in the radiation field that result in the enhancement of scattering and absorption processes which alter the energy balance and solar energy distribution in the Arctic atmosphere-surface system. During the second Arctic Gas and Aerosols Sampling Project (AGASP II) field experiment, we measured radiation parameters using the NOAA WP-3D research aircraft as a platform. State-of-the-art instrumentation was used to measure in situ the absorption of solar radiation by the Arctic atmosphere during severe haze events. Simultaneously with the absorption measurements, we determined optical depths, and total, direct, and scattered radiation fields. All optical measurements were made at spectral bands centered at 412, 500, 675, and 778 nm and with a bandpass of 10 nm. With this selection of spectral regions we concentrated on the measurement of the radiative effects of the aerosol excluding most of the contributions by the gaseous components of the atmosphere. An additional measurement performed during these experiments was the determination of total solar spectrum fluxes. The experimentally determined parameters were used to define an aerosol model that was employed to deduce the absorption by the aerosols over the full solar spectrum and to calculate atmospheric heating rate profiles. The analyses summarized above allowed us to deduce the magnitude of the change in some important parameters. For example, we found changes in instantaneous heating rate of up to about 0.6 K/day. Besides the increased absorption (30 to 40%) and scattering of radiation by the atmosphere, the haze reduces the surface absorption of solar energy by 6 to 10% and the effective planetary albedo over ice surfaces by 3 to 6%. The vertical distribution of the absorbing aerosol is inferred from the flux measurements. Values for the specific absorption of carbon are found to be around 6 m²/g for externally mixed aerosol and about 11.7 m²/g for internally mixed aerosol. A complete study of the radiative effects of the Arctic haze should include infrared measurements and calculations as well as physics of the ice, snow, and water surfaces.     

中国大气气溶胶辐射特性参数的观测与研究进展

长期系统的气溶胶辐射特性观测资料是定量研究气溶胶辐射和气候效应的重要基础.本文综合介绍中国大气气溶胶辐射特性观测与研究现状和成果,重点包括以下内容:地面太阳光度计联网观测气溶胶光学厚度、单次散射反照率、尺度谱;从全波段太阳辐射反演气溶胶光学厚度、单次散射反照率;浊度计和黑碳仪测量地面气溶胶散射系数和吸收系数;地基/星载激光雷达观测气溶胶(后向散射系数)垂直分布;极轨/静止卫星遥感反演气溶胶光学特性.     

不同污染条件下气溶胶对短波辐射通量影响的模拟研究

将高光谱分辨率的气溶胶光学参数化方案应用于高精度的辐射传输模式BCC_RAD（974带）中,研究不同污染状况下气溶胶在地表与近地层大气中造成的直接辐射强迫与辐射强迫效率。发现气溶胶在地表产生的直接辐射强迫为负,在近地层大气中产生的直接辐射强迫为正,且随气溶胶浓度的升高变大,说明大气气溶胶的含量越高,单位气溶胶光学厚度产生的直接辐射强迫越大。将短波划分为3个波段:紫外、可见光和近红外,发现在紫外、可见光和近红外波段中,不同污染状况下气溶胶在地表造成的直接辐射强迫范围分别为:-1.36—-13.66、-3.03—-32.41和-2.74—-28.62 W/m2,在近地层大气中产生的直接辐射强迫范围分别为0.44—4.26、0.99—9.80和0.93—8.87 W/m2。通过进一步对比自然和人为气溶胶的影响,发现人为气溶胶在地表和大气层顶产生的负直接辐射强迫以及对整层和近地面大气造成的正直接辐射强迫均大于自然气溶胶的影响,且上述两种排放源的气溶胶对整层大气辐射收支的影响主要集中在800 hPa高度以下的大气中。按照地表直接辐射强迫大小来分析不同种类气溶胶的影响,结果为硫酸盐>有机碳>黑碳>海盐>沙尘;按照近地层大气直接辐射强迫大小排序则为黑碳>有机碳>沙尘>海盐>硫酸盐。最后,通过分析散射型气溶胶与吸收型气溶胶对辐射通量的影响,还探究了大气中散射与吸收过程的异同。      

黑河地区绿州和沙漠地面辐射收支的若干特征

利用HEIFE中在绿州和沙漠两个测站所取得的资料。分析了两种不同下垫面辐射收支及其季节变化特征。结果表明：绿州区地表反射率明显小于沙漠区,季节变化明显;地面向上长波辐射绿州小于沙漠,地面有效辐射绿州小于沙漠。且季节变化明显;地表净辐射绿州大于沙漠,其能量以潜热为主输入大气;干旱地区的绿州光合有效辐射年总量大于河北、山声等地。光合有效辐射资源极为丰富。     

三维城市地表反射率计算模式

地表反射率是控制地表能量平衡的一个重要参数。城市建筑物的分布具有较大的不均一性,这不仅给地基观测城市地表反射率带来了很大困难,数值模拟城市地表反射率也是非常困难的。作者开发了一个三维城市地表反射率模式city_photo,该方法结合了蒙特卡洛方法和几何光学方法的优点,具有较高的精度和较快的计算速度。通过引入城市地图的概念,该模式能够计算具有不同结构的城市的地表反射率。2002至2004年晴空MODIS（MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer,中分辨率成像光谱辐射计）1~7通道可见光和近红外通道地表反射率资料被用来检验模式的有效性,位于北京朝阳区的中国科学院大气物理研究所的AERONET站点观测得到气溶胶光学特性和水汽资料,6S（Second Simulation of Satellite Signal in the Solar Spectrum）大气辐射传输模式被用来对其进行大气订正。模式计算的北京城市地表反射率个例与MODIS 7个通道地表反射率观测结果具有很高的相关性,相关系数在0.80~0.93之间,说明模式能够较好地模拟城市地表反射率随太阳和观测角度的变化情况。最后讨论了城市结构对城市地表反射率的影响。     

ACE‐2 multiple angle micro‐pulse lidar observations from Las Galletas, Tenerife, Canary Islands

Multiple‐angle micro‐pulse lidar (MPL) observations were made at Las Galletas on Tenerife, Canary Islands during the Aerosol Characterization Experiment‐2 (ACE‐2) conducted June–July, 1997. A principal objective of the MPL observations was to characterize the temporal/spatial distributions of aerosols in the region, particularly to identify and profile elevated Saharan dust layers which occur intermittently during the June–July time period. Vertical and slant angle measurements taken 16 and 17 July characterize such an occurrence, providing aerosol backscatter, extinction, and optical depth profiles of the dust layer between 1 and 5 km above mean sea level (MSL). Additionally, horizontal measurements taken in Las Galletas throughout the 6‐week period provide a time profile of the varying aerosol extinction at the surface. This profile exhibits the alternating periods of clean maritime air and pollution outbreaks that typified the region. Horizontal measurements also provide some evidence suggesting the possible influx of Saharan dust from the free troposphere to the surface. This paper presents estimates of aerosol optical properties retrieved from the multi‐angle MPL measurements in addition to an outline of the methodologies employed to obtain these results.     

沙尘气溶胶卫星遥感现状与需要关注的若干问题

沙尘暴是全球干旱、半干旱地区特有的一种灾害性天气,所产生的沙尘气溶胶是全球气溶胶系统重要组成部分,对全球环境、天气、气候和生态有复杂的影响。沙尘气溶胶作为一种吸收性气溶胶,对太阳辐射有着较强的吸收,还能通过加热大气、改变大气稳定度、蒸发云滴、减少云量等"半直接方式"影响气候。卫星遥感对沙尘气溶胶的监测具有独特的优势,是全球沙尘研究的重要手段。本文系统整理和介绍了目前常用的可见近红外、热红外、被动微波、紫外和主动激光测量等五类卫星遥感沙尘气溶胶的主要方法,在总结典型遥感仪器和主要产品基础上,讨论了遥感产品的定量精度和地面验证问题,结合辐射传输理论模拟了可见近红外和热红外的卫星观测,探讨了可见近红外遥感的地表反照率影响和热红外高光谱遥感的波段选择问题,最后对未来的一些研究重点进行了展望。     

Properties of dust aerosol particles transported to Portugal from the Sahara desert

Aerosol properties of mineral particles in the far field of an African desert dust outbreak were investigated that brought Saharan dust over the Mediterranean in different layers to Portugal. The measurements were performed inside the project Desert Aerosols over Portugal (DARPO) which was linked to the Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment (SAMUM). The maximum particle mass concentration was about 150 μg m⁻³ and the corresponding scattering coefficient was 130 M m⁻¹ which results in a mass scattering efficiency of 0.87 m² g⁻¹. The aerosol optical depth reached values up to 0.53 and the lidar ratio was between 45 and 50 in the whole dust loaded column. A comparison between particle size distributions and refractive indices derived from different instruments and models showed a general good agreement but some minor differences could also be observed. Measurements as well as calculations with a particle transport model suggest that there is a relatively higher concentration of very large particles in the upper region of the dust layer than on the surface which is likely connected with meteorological conditions at the observational site (Évora, Portugal).     

Evolution of aerosol vertical distribution during particulate pollution events in Shanghai

A set of micro pulse lidar(MPL)systems operating at 532 nm was used for ground-based observation of aerosols in Shanghai in 2011.Three typical particulate pollution events(e.g.,haze)were examined to determine the evolution of aerosol vertical distribution and the planetary boundary layer(PBL)during these pollution episodes.The aerosol vertical extinction coefficient(VEC)at any given measured altitude was prominently larger during haze periods than that before or after the associated event.Aerosols originating from various source regions exerted forcing to some extent on aerosol loading and vertical layering,leading to different aerosol vertical distribution structures.Aerosol VECs were always maximized near the surface owing to the potential influence of local pollutant emissions.Several peaks in aerosol VECs were found at altitudes above 1 km during the dust-and bioburning-influenced haze events.Aerosol VECs decreased with increasing altitude during the local-polluted haze event,with a single maximum in the surface atmosphere.PM2.5 increased slowly while PBL and visibility decreased gradually in the early stages of haze events;subsequently,PM2.5 accumulated and was exacerbated until serious pollution bursts occurred in the middle and later stages.The results reveal that aerosols from different sources impact aerosol vertical distributions in the atmosphere and that the relationship between PBL and pollutant loadings may play an important role in the formation of pollution.     

Spatial distribution and optical properties of Saharan dust observed by airborne high spectral resolution lidar during SAMUM 2006

Airborne measurements of pure Saharan dust extinction and backscatter coefficients, the corresponding lidar ratio and the aerosol optical thickness (AOT) have been performed during the Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment 2006, with a high spectral resolution lidar. Dust layers were found to range from ground up to 4–6 km above sea level (asl). Maximum AOT values at 532 nm, encountered within these layers during the DLR Falcon research flights were 0.50–0.55. A significant horizontal variability of the AOT south of the High Atlas mountain range was observed even in cases of a well-mixed dust layer. High vertical variations of the dust lidar ratio of 38–50 sr were observed in cases of stratified dust layers. The variability of the lidar ratio was attributed to dust advection from different source regions. The aerosol depolarization ratio was about 30% at 532 nm during all measurements and showed only marginal vertical variations.     

Long-term Variability of Integral and Spectral Transparency of the Atmosphere at Mirny Observatory,Antarctica

The aerosol optical depth of the atmosphere obtained from spectral sun photometer measurements and the integral optical depth determined from standard actinometric observations of direct solar radiation are the parameters of the optical state of the atmosphere. The quantitative estimates of the integral transparency and aerosol optical depth of the atmosphere in Antarctica are presented, their long-term variability over the entire period of observations is analyzed. The comparison of obtained data with the estimates for other natural regions and conditions revealed that during the periods without the impact of volcanic eruptions, the levels of atmospheric aerosol turbidity in Antarctica over the recent decades are minimal on the planet and can be considered as global background characteristics.     

Retrieval of aerosol optical properties over a vegetation surface using multi-angular,multi-spectral,and polarized data

An algorithm to retrieve aerosol optical properties using multi-angular,multi-spectral,and polarized data without a priori knowledge of the land surface was developed.In the algorithm,the surface polarized reflectance was estimated by eliminating the atmospheric scattering from measured polarized reflectance at 1640 nm.A lookup table （LUT） and an iterative method were adopted in the algorithm to retrieve the aerosol optical thickness （AOT,at 665 nm） and the （A）ngstr（o）m exponent （computed between the AOTs at 665 and 865 nm）.Experiments were performed in Tianjin to verify the algorithm.Data were provided by a newly developed airborne instrument,the Advanced Atmosphere Multi-angle Polarization Radiometer （AMPR）.The AMPR measurements over the target field agreed well with the nearby ground-based sun photometer.An algorithm based on Research Scanning Polarimeter （RSP） measurements was introduced to validate the observational measurements along a flight path over Tianjin.The retrievals were consistent between the two algorithms.The AMPR algorithm shows potential in retrieving aerosol optical properties over a vegetation surface.     

Aerosol modulation of atmospheric and surface solar heating over the tropical Indian Ocean

The major finding of this study is that aerosols over the tropical Indian Ocean enhance clear sky atmospheric solar heating significantly and decrease the surface solar heating by even a larger amount. The results presented here are based on aerosol chemical, microphysical, and optical and radiometric data collected at the island of Kaashidhoo (4.97°N, 73.47°E) during February and March of 1998, as part of the first field phase of the Indian Ocean experiment (INDOEX). The aerosol optical properties were integrated with a multiple scattering Monte Carlo radiative transfer model which was validated at the surface with broadband flux measurements and at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) with the clouds and earth's radiant energy system (CERES) radiation budget measurements. We consider both externally and internally mixed aerosol models with very little difference between the two models in the estimated forcing. For the February–March period, the aerosols increase the monthly mean clear sky atmospheric solar heating by about 12 W/m²(about 15% of the total atmospheric solar heating) and decrease the sea surface clear sky solar heating by about 16 W/m² with a daily range from 5 to 23 W/m². The net aerosol forcing at the top of the atmosphere is about −4 W/m² with a daily range from −2 to −6 W/m². Although the soot contributes only about 10% to the aerosol optical thickness, it contributes more than 50% to the aerosol induced atmospheric solar heating. The fundamental conclusion of this study is that anthropogenic aerosols over the tropical Indian Ocean are altering the clear sky radiation budget of the atmosphere and surface in a major manner.