Aerosol Optical Properties Affected by a Strong Dust Storm over Central and Northern China

Aerosol observational data at 8 ground-based observation sites in the Chinese Sun Hazemeter Network(CSHNET)were analyzed to characterize the optical properties of aerosol particles during the strong dust storm of 16-21 April 2005.The observational aerosol optical depth(AOD)increased significantly during this dust storm at sites in Beijing city(86%),Beijing forest(84%),Xianghe(13%),Shapotou(27%),Shenyang(47%),Shanghai(23%),and Jiaozhou Bay(24%).The API(air pollution index)in Beijing and Tianjin also had a similar rise during the dust storm,while the Angstrm exponent(α)declined evidently at sites in Beijing city(21%),Beijing forest(39%),Xianghe(19%),Ordos(77%),Shapotou(50%),Shanghai(12%),and Jiaozhou Bay(21%),respectively.Furthermore,The observational AOD andαdemonstrated contrary trends during all storm stages(pre-dust storm,dust storm,and post-dust storm),with the AOD indicating an obvious"Valley-Peak-Valley"pattern of variation,whileαdemonstrated a"Peak-Valley-Peak"pattern. In addition,the dust module in a regional climate model(RegCM3)simulated the dust storm occurrence and track accurately and RegCM3 was able to basically simulate the trends in AOD.The simulation results for the North China stations were the best,and the simulation for dust-source stations was on the high side,while the simulation was on the low side for coastal sites.     

Identification of Aerosol Types and Their Optical Properties in the North China Plain Based on Long-Term AERONET Data

Characterization of aerosols is required to reduce uncertainties in satellite retrievals of global aerosols and for modeling the effects of these aerosols on climate.Aerosols in the North China Plain(NCP) are complex,which provides a good opportunity to study key aerosol optical properties for various aerosol types.A cluster analysis of key optical properties obtained from Aerosol Robotic Network(AERONET) data in Beijing and Xianghe during 2001-11 was performed to identify dominant aerosol types and their associated optical properties.Five dominant aerosol types were identified.The results show that the urban/industrial aerosol of moderate absorption was dominant in the region and that this type varied little with season.Urban/industrial aerosol of weak absorption was the next most common type and mainly occurs in summer,followed by that strong aerosols occurring mainly in winter.All were predominantly fine mode particles.Mineral dust(MD) and polluted dust(PD) occurred mainly in spring,followed by winter,and their absorption decreased with wavelength.In addition,aerosol dynamics and optical parameters such as refractive index and asymmetry factor were examined.Results show that the size of coarse mode particles decreased with AOD indicating the domination of external mixing between aerosols.     

天空辐射计观测2006年春季北京地区气溶胶光学特性的研究

利用2006年3～5月天空辐射计观测数据反演得到北京地区春季大气气溶胶光学性质参数,包括大气气溶胶光学厚度(0.5μm)、Angstrm指数、单次散射反射比和粒子谱分布特征。结果表明:北京地区春季气溶胶平均光学厚度0.67,Angstrm指数0.54,单次散射比0.88,粒子吸收性质较弱,粒子谱呈双峰形,以粗粒子为主,粗、细模态粒子粒径分别集中在0.17μm和7.7μm左右。相比2004年此次观测期间气溶胶粒径较大,粒子体积浓度较高,散射作用在其消光特性中的比重略有下降。光学厚度日变化呈单峰型,日间单次散射比随时间逐渐递减,Angstrm指数在上午递减趋势明显,午后变得稳定。对同时观测的天空辐射计与CE-318不同波长光学厚度结果进行比较,结果显示两者得到的光学厚度相关性很好,各波长小时平均结果的相对误差小于7%。     

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。     

Aerosol Optical Properties and Radiative Impacts in the Pearl River Delta Region of China during the Dry Season

Aerosol optical properties and direct radiative effects on surface irradiance were examined using seven years(2006–2012)of Cimel sunphotometer data collected at Panyu—the main atmospheric composition monitoring station in the Pearl River Delta(PRD) region of China. During the dry season(October to February), mean values of the aerosol optical depth(AOD)at 550 nm, the ?ngstr?m exponent, and the single scattering albedo at 440 nm(SSA) were 0.54, 1.33 and 0.87, respectively.About 90% of aerosols were dominated by fine-mode strongly absorbing particles. The size distribution was bimodal, with fine-mode particles dominating. The fine mode showed a peak at a radius of 0.12 μm in February and October(~0.10μm~3μm~(-2)). The mean diurnal shortwave direct radiative forcing at the surface, inside the atmosphere(FATM), and at the top of the atmosphere, was-33.4 ± 7.0, 26.1 ± 5.6 and-7.3 ± 2.7 W m~(-2), respectively. The corresponding mean values of aerosol direct shortwave radiative forcing per AOD were-60.0 ± 7.8, 47.3 ± 8.3 and-12.8 ± 3.1 W m~(-2), respectively. Moreover,during the study period, FATMshowed a significant decreasing trend(p 0.01) and SSA increased from 0.87 in 2006 to 0.91 in 2012, suggesting a decreasing trend of absorbing particles being released into the atmosphere. Optical properties and radiative impacts of the absorbing particles can be used to improve the accuracy of inversion algorithms for satellite-based aerosol retrievals in the PRD region and to better constrain the climate effect of aerosols in climate models.     

Comparisons of a Chemical Transport Model with a Four-Year (April to September) Analysis of Fine- and Coarse-Mode Aerosol Optical Depth Retrievals Over the Canadian Arctic

We compared April to September retrievals of total, fine-mode (sub-micron), and coarse-mode (super-micron) aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) with simulations from a global three-dimensional chemical transport model, the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS-Chem), across five Arctic stations and a four-year sampling period. It was determined that the AOD histograms of both the retrievals and the simulations were better represented by a lognormal distribution and that the successful simulation of this empirical feature as well as its consequences (including a better model versus retrieval coefficient of determination in log-log AOD space) represented a general indicator of model evaluation success. Seasonal (monthly averaged) AOD retrievals were sensitive to the way in which the averaging was performed; this was ascribed to the presence of highly variable fine-mode smoke in the western Arctic. The retrieved and modelled station-by-station fine-mode AOD averages showed a peak in April/May that decreased over the summer, while the model underestimated the fine-mode AOD by an average of about 0.004 (～6%). Both the retrievals and simulations showed seasonal coarse-mode AOD variations with a peak in April/May that was attributed to Asian and/or Saharan dust. The model's success in capturing such weak seasonal events helps to confirm the relevance of the separation of the fine and coarse modes and the general validity of model estimates in the Arctic.     

基于AERONET和OMI数据分析中国北方典型地区气溶胶单次散射反照率的变化趋势

气溶胶单次散射反照率（SSA）表征气溶胶吸收特性,很大程度上决定了气溶胶辐射强迫的正负,对准确评估气候变化中的气溶胶辐射强迫具有重要意义。根据2004年10月至2016年12月地基AERONET（AERosol RObotic NETwork）和OMI（Ozone Monitoring Instrument）卫星数据,分析了中国北方典型地区（北京、香河、兴隆和兰州郊区）SSA的变化趋势以及两组数据的一致性。4个站AERONET和OMI 的SSA年均值分别为:北京0.89±0.04和0.90±0.04,香河0.89±0.04和0.91±0.04,兴隆0.92±0.04和0.91±0.04,兰州0.91±0.04和0.90±0.04。4个站点SSA季节变化一致,夏季高冬季低。SSA年际变化趋势分析时,因有效数据较少且为非正态分布,用月中位数代替月均值,同时需对数据进行筛选和去季节变化,结果显示北京和香河均有地基和卫星有效数据时间尺度不同的情况,而兴隆OMI和兰州AERONET满足趋势分析要求。在研究期间,4站SSA均呈上升趋势,说明近年来中国北方气溶胶的吸收性减弱,散射特性增强,尤其北京四季地基和卫星数据均呈上升趋势,但香河秋冬吸收性增强。同时,对AERONET和OMI两种反演算法得到的SSA一致性进行分析。香河结果差异较大,仅30%的数据在误差±0.03的范围内,55%在±0.05的范围内;北京分别为46%（±0.03）和68%（±0.05）,兴隆分别为50%（±0.03）和76%（±0.05）,兰州数据一致性较好,分别为51%（±0.03）和86%（±0.05）,总体来说是受人为活动影响比较明显的地区,数据一致性较差。     

Evaluation of ACCMIP simulated fine-mode AOD and its implication for aerosol direct forcing

This study examines and evaluates simulated aerosol optical depth (AOD) and fine-mode AOD (fAOD) from the ACCMIP and CMIP5 global model archives. Satellite data nudged to AERONET data are used to construct reliable global observations of AOD and fAOD for validating the simulations. The difference in simulated global average AOD among models is of the order of a factor of 2, and the difference is even larger (～factor of 3) for fAOD. Compared to the observations, the models tend to underestimate AOD and fAOD significantly over eastern China. Another important discrepancy is that the models show larger fAOD over the Indus-Ganga Plain in summer than in winter, whereas the observations display an opposite feature. The models also overestimate the fAOD over the biomass burning regions of central Africa in DJF and underestimate the fAOD over the biomass burning regions of southern Africa in JJA. To evaluate the effect of the discrepancy between modeled and observed fAOD on aerosol direct radiative forcing, an offline radiation model is utilized. Comparing the model-fAODderived fine-mode forcing with the fine-mode forcing derived from the fAOD observation, the models tend to give too large (negative) value. This result implies that the calculated anthropogenic aerosol forcing in ACCMIP and CMIP5 models has a negative bias.     

近十年北京气溶胶光学特性及直接辐射强迫研究

利用SBDART（Santa Barbara DISORT Atmospheric Radiative Transfer）辐射传输模式,结合AERONET（Aerosol Robotic Network）北京站观测的气溶胶光学特性数据,评估北京地区近十年气溶胶以及黑碳气溶胶的辐射强迫,主要研究结果如下:北京近十年气溶胶平均光学厚度（aerosol optical depth, AOD_440nm）为0.61±0.56,?ngstr?m波长指数均值为1.09,单次散射反照率（single scattering albedo, SSA_440nm）的均值为0.888±0.045;AOD呈现下降趋势,SSA呈上升趋势,表明该区域气溶胶污染有所改善。晴空条件下,大气层顶、地面和大气的气溶胶直接辐射强迫多年均值分别为?24.91±19.80 W m?2、?65.52±43.78 W m?2、40.61±28.62 W m?2,即气溶胶对大气层顶和地表为冷却效应,对大气产生加热作用。气溶胶和黑碳气溶胶的直接辐射强迫绝对值的年际变化表现为微弱的下降趋势,季节变化特征为春夏季高,冬季低,这与AOD的变化规律一致。并且黑碳气溶胶的直接辐射强迫下降趋势与SSA的上升趋势呈现较好的反位相关系。     

Comparison of Aerosol Single Scattering Albedo Derived from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument with Aerosol Robotic Network Observations

The single-scattering albedo (SSA), which quantifies radiative absorption capability, is an important optical property of aerosols. Ground-based methods have been extensively exploited to determine aerosol SSA but there were no satellite-based SSA measurements available until the advent of advanced remote sensing techniques, such as the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). Although the overall accuracy of OMI SSA is estimated to approach 0.1, its regional availability is unclear. Four-year SSA daily measurements from three Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) sites in China (Xianghe, Taihu, and Hong Kong) are chosen to determine the accuracy of OMI SSA in specific locations. The results show that on a global scale, the OMI SSA is systematically higher (with a mean relative bias of 3.5% and a RMS difference of ~0.06) and has poor correlation with the AERONET observations. In the Xianghe, Taihu, and Hong Kong sites, the correlation coefficients are 0.16, 0.47, and 0.44, respectively, suggesting that the distinct qualities of OMI SSA depend on geographic locations and/or dominant aerosol environments. The two types of SSA data yield the best agreement in Taihu and the worst in Hong Kong; the differing behavior is likely caused by varying levels of cloud contamination. The good consistency of the aerosol variation between the two SSA datasets on a seasonal scale is promising. These findings suggest that the current-version OMI SSA product can be applied to qualitatively characterize climatological variations of aerosol properties despite its limited accuracy as an instantaneous measurement.     

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.     

Terra和Aqua卫星MODIS 3 km AOD与北京PM_(2.5)对比分析

本文利用2014年全年北京市12个空气质量监测站的逐小时PM_(2.5)地面观测资料,以及Terra卫星和Aqua卫星的MODIS 3 km气溶胶光学厚度(AOD)产品,分析了地面PM_(2.5)和两颗卫星AOD的时空分布特征,并在时空匹配的基础上,建立了AOD与PM_(2.5)浓度之间的回归模型。结果表明:PM_(2.5)浓度在城区高、郊区低,最低值位于定陵站,城区站和郊区站的逐时PM_(2.5)浓度的日变化分别呈"双峰型"和"单峰型";两颗卫星AOD数值也均是城区高、郊区低,沿山区的边界有明显的AOD梯度,且城区上午Terra卫星的AOD高于下午Aqua卫星的AOD,而郊区上、下午的AOD基本相同;Aqua卫星AOD与PM_(2.5)的确定系数(R2)较Terra卫星AOD与PM_(2.5)的确定系数平均高0.11,且城区站点两颗卫星AOD与PM_(2.5)相关性均较郊区站点AOD与PM_(2.5)相关性偏高;综合来看,Aqua卫星的AOD与城区的PM_(2.5)相关系数最高,即Aqua卫星的AOD更适于监测和反演城区地面的PM_(2.5)。     

利用MODIS光学厚度遥感产品研究北京及周边地区的大气污染

对2001年在北京地区利用太阳光度计观测的气溶胶光学厚度和NASA发布的MODIS气溶胶产品进行了比较,验证了这一卫星遥感产品的可靠性;比较了2001年MODIS气溶胶光学厚度(AOD)产品和由空气污染指数(API)计算的每日平均可吸入颗粒物(PM10)浓度,得到了比较高的相关系数,证实该气溶胶产品可用于污染分析.将北京地区AOD与气象能见度观测资料进行比较,得到了不同季节的气溶胶"标高".利用统计的不同季节的气溶胶标高,从光学厚度的季节分布得到了能见度(能见距离)的季节分布.气溶胶光学厚度图像的个例分析表明,除局地排放外,周边区域(主要为西南和南向)的输送对北京市区的空气污染贡献份额较大.卫星遥感气溶胶可以比较直观地再现污染物的区域分布和输送,不仅为研究全球气候变化也为研究区域环境的空气质量提供了一种有效手段.     

灰霾过程中的气溶胶特性观测研究

结合太阳光度计、激光雷达以及其他相关数据对河北香河县2007年4月初的一次灰霾天气过程中的气溶胶特性进行了遥感研究。研究表明,在这次灰霾的爆发期间,能见度从20 km下降到3 km左右;气溶胶光学厚度（AOD）在3个波段上都明显增加,特别是380 nm处的AOD从6日的031增长到10日的140;Angstrom指数(ALPHA)也明显下降,例如340~440 nm处的ALPHA从7日的145下降到10日的099。从AOD和ALPHA在短波处的较大变化、体积浓度谱的粗模态粒子的大量增加和PM10浓度值的变化分析来看,这次灰霾过程中的气溶胶数浓度明显增加,其中还含有大颗粒物的大量导入。激光雷达探测消光系数的垂直分布也显示气溶胶在垂直高度上达到了近3 000 m左右。从微物理特征的变化上看,这次灰霾过程中局地气溶胶的散射能力增强,吸收能力减弱。另外,通过HYSPLIT模式对后向轨迹的模拟和对NCEP数据的分析,发现这次灰霾过程中所包含的大颗粒物的主要源地可能是蒙古地区,所以气溶胶呈现了一定的沙尘气溶胶特征。     

中国3个典型城市气溶胶光学厚度地基观测及其MODIS气溶胶产品精度分析

利用中国太阳分光观测网的观测资料结合MODIS(中分辨率成像光谱仪)的气溶胶产品分析了北京、兰州、上海3个典型区域城市的气溶胶光学特性。结果表明:北京AOD(气溶胶光学厚度)年平均为0.41±0.35,春夏高,秋冬低,Angstrm波长指数α年平均为1.40±0.85表现为细模态粒子,MODIS的光学厚度为0.52±0.39与地面观测相关系数为0.91,存在系统性高估;兰州AOD年平均为0.55±0.21,夏季最低,秋冬较高,α年平均为0.95±0.20表现为粗模态粒子,MODIS光学厚度为0.43±0.21与地面观测相关系数仅为0.07,存在系统性低估;上海AOD年平均为0.55±0.21,无明显季节变化,α平均为1.03±0.25,MODIS光学厚度为0.74±0.30与地面观测相关系数为0.75,存在系统性高估。城市地理位置和复杂地表等原因造成反照率的不确定,MODIS气溶胶产品在这3个城市的反演效果仍有很大提升空间。     

2000—2013年北京及周边地区大气气溶胶光学厚度时空变化特征及气象影响因素分析

利用NASA Terra卫星搭载的MODIS传感器观测到的2000—2013年气溶胶光学厚度数据和河北省142个观测站同期的气象数据,对北京及周边区域大气气溶胶的时空变化特征进行了分析,并通过研究光学厚度与各气象要素的关系,对影响大气气溶胶时空变化的关键气象因素进行探讨。结果表明：北京以南区域的气溶胶光学厚度在夏季最大,其次为春季,秋冬季相对较低,河北省西北部低于东南部;坝上地区的光学厚度年际变化小于其他地区,平原区与沿海地区的年际变化基本一致,春夏高于秋冬。春季相对湿度是影响光学厚度值的重要因素,气溶胶光学厚度的高值出现在5—7月,并伴随较高的相对湿度、较低的能见度、南风、较低的地面风速和稳定的大气层结。北京以南的河北省各台站污染程度与北京类似,南部站点的光学厚度高于东北部,这与人为气溶胶的排放主要集中于北京南部的工业城市,以及南风控制的污染物扩散方向有关。     

华北及其周边地区秋季气溶胶光学性质的星载和地基遥感观测

利用2004～2009年秋季臭氧监测仪的3级观测资料,分析了华北及周边地区的气溶胶光学性质。结果表明:大部分区域气溶胶光学厚度(Aerosol Optical Depth,AOD)和气溶胶紫外吸收指数(Ultra Violet Aerosol Index,UVAI)平均值分别高于0.8和0.75;高气溶胶事件发生频次统计表明,AOD高值(>0.4)频发于北京及其周边地区,UVAI高值(>1.0)频发于河北中部及南部地区;华北及其周边地区绝大多数城市平均AOD和UVAI分别高于0.7和0.60,而张家口、承德和阳泉3个城市的平均AOD和UVAI值分别低于0.6和0.65。作者进一步研究了2006年10月30日的一次霾事件中气溶胶的光学性质以及其时空分布特征。结果表明,霾由华北地区输送至渤海海域,并向东北方向输送;香河地基EZlidar激光雷达的垂直观测结果进一步表明,工业和城市型气溶胶主要集中在1500m以下,其中高浓度部分集中于650m以下,平均峰值位于285m,平均消光系数达2.15km-1;CALIOP卫星观测资料结合后向轨迹分析表明,大气低层气溶胶类型以工业和城市型气溶胶为主,而高层则由于上游大气输送沙尘粒子的混入使气溶胶类型转变为污染—沙尘型。霾事件期间,香河站CE-318太阳光度计观测的AOD平均值(标准差)从背景值0.08(0.04)升高至1.17(0.14);ngstrm指数平均值(标准差)从背景值0.90(0.10)升至1.12(0.09);核模态、积聚模态和粗模态的气溶胶粒子数柱总量均增加,其中细粒子所占比例明显升高。     

MODIS卫星遥感北京地区气溶胶光学厚度及与地面光度计遥感的对比

介绍MODIS卫星遥感气溶胶的方法,利用北京大学地面多波段太阳光度计的观测进行了对比,二者的相关性比较好.给出了描述北京地区气溶胶光学厚度分布的几幅图片.卫星遥感对于更好地研究空气污染提供了一种新手段,卫星遥感的气溶胶光学厚度弥补了地面观测空间覆盖不足的缺陷.卫星遥感的气溶胶资料不仅对全球和区域气候研究而且对城市污染分析提供了丰富的资料.     

Retrieval of aerosol optical properties over the Beijing area using POLDER/PARASOL satellite polarization measurements

Aerosol optical properties over Beijing and Xianghe under several typical weather conditions (clear sky, light haze, heavy pollution and dust storm) are derived from POLDER (POLarization and Directionality of the Earths Reflectances)/PARASOL (Polarization and Anisotropy of Reflectances for Atmospheric Sciences coupled with Observations from a Lidar) multi-directional, multi-spectral polarized signals using a more reliable retrieval algorithm as proposed in this paper. The results are compared with those of the operational retrieval algorithm of POLDER/PARASOL group and the ground-based AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork)/PHOTONS (PHOtometrie pour le Traitement Operational de Normalisation Satellitaire) measurements. It is shown that the aerosol optical parameters derived from the improved algorithm agree well with AERONET/PHOTONS measurement. The retrieval accuracies of aerosol optical thickness (AOT) and effective radius are 0.06 and 0.05 mu m respectively, which are close to or better than the required accuracies (0.04 for AOT and 0.1 mu m for effective radius) for estimating aerosol direct forcing.     

The Seasonal Variations of Aerosols over East Asia as Jointly Inferred from MODIS and OMI

Data on aerosol optical thickness(AOT) and single scattering albedo(SSA) derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer(MODIS) and Ozone Monitoring Instrument(OMI) measurements,respectively,are used jointly to examine the seasonal variations of aerosols over East Asia.The seasonal signals of the total AOT are well defined and nearly similar over the land and over the ocean.These findings indicate a natural cycle of aerosols that originate primarily from natural emissions. In contrast,the small-sized aerosols represented by the fine-mode AOT,which are primarily generated over the land by human activities,do not have evident seasonalscale fluctuations.A persistent maximum of aerosol loadings centered over the Sichuan basin is associated with considerable amounts of fine-mode aerosols throughout the year.Most regions exhibit a general spring maximum. During the summer,however,the aerosol loadings are the most marked over north central China.This occurrence may result from anthropogenic fine particles,such as sulfate and nitrate.Four typical regions were selected to perform a covariation analysis of the monthly gridded AOT and SSA.Over southwestern and southeastern China,if the aerosol loadings are small to moderate they are composed primarily of the highly absorptive aerosols. However,more substantial aerosol loadings probably represent less-absorptive aerosols.The opposite covariation pattern occurring over the coastal-adjacent oceans suggests that the polluted oceanic atmosphere is closely correlated with the windward terrestrial aerosols.North central China is strongly affected by dust aerosols that show moderate absorption.This finding may explain the lower variability in the SSA that accompanies increasing aerosol loadings in this region.