Influence of aerosol on clouds over the Indo-Gangetic Plain, India

Using Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer Aerosol Index (AI) and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis clouds data for the period 1979–1992, the influence of aerosol on the clouds (low and high cloud cover) over the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) in India has been brought out for the first time in the present study. AI shows increasing tendency over the IGP suggesting that aerosol loading over this region increased significantly during the study period. In our analysis, High Cloud Cover (HCC) shows increasing trend and Low Cloud Cover (LCC) shows decreasing trend over the IGP during the same period. During pre-monsoon season when aerosol loading is more, HCC increases in positive correlation with AI. On the other hand, LCC show decreasing trend and is anti-correlated with AI. During summer monsoon, aerosol shows increasing trend but their effect on HCC and LCC is not seen to be significant. Similarly, the role of humidity on aerosol induced changes in HCC and LCC over the IGP region was also analyzed. In the low to moderate humid areas of IGP region (western and middle IGP), increasing AI leads to increase in HCC and decrease in LCC. On the other hand, in high humid areas (eastern IGP), increase in AI does not show any significant effect on HCC, but LCC shows positive trend. Therefore, we strongly argue that increasing aerosol loading enhances Cloud Condensation Nuclei over the region which in turn, alters the microphysical properties of clouds by reducing the size of cloud droplets, and atmospheric humidity controls the aerosol effect on clouds. During the recent period (2005–2010), similar features have also been observed over the IGP region.     

Variations in CO,O<Subscript>3</Subscript> and black carbon aerosol mass concentrations associated with planetary boundary layer (PBL) over tropical urban environment in India

Carbon monoxide (CO), Ozone (O₃) and Black Carbon (BC) aerosol mass concentrations in relation to planetary boundary layer (PBL) height measurements were analyzed from January–December, 2008 over tropical urban environment of Hyderabad, India. DMSP-OLS night-time satellite data were analyzed for fire occurrence over the region and its correlation with pollution concentrations over the urban region. Results of the study suggested considerable increase in CO and BC concentrations during early morning hours. Higher concentration of BC, CO and ozone was observed during pre-monsoon, post-monsoon and winter and lowest concentrations exhibited during monsoon season. NCEP/NCAR reanalysis winds suggested long range transport of aerosols and trace gases from forest fires are enhancing the pollutant concentrations over the study area.     

The assessment of aerosol optical properties over Mohal in the northwestern Indian Himalayas using satellite and ground-based measurements and an influence of aerosol transport on aerosol radiative forcing

The present study deals with the aerosol optical properties which are assessed during the period 2007 to 2009 over Mohal (31.9oN, 77.12oE) in the northwestern Indian Himalaya, using ground-based measurements and multi-satellite data. The daily average value of aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 500?nm, ?ngstr?m exponent and turbidity coefficient are 0.24?±?0.08, 1.02?±?0.34 and 0.13?±?0.05, respectively. The comparative study of satellite and ground-based measurements reveals that the percentage retrieval for daily AOD at 550?nm over Mohal within the expected accuracy (???? _p?? ?=?±0.05?±?0.15?? _p?? ) is around 87%, with a significant correlation coefficient of 0.76. The present study suggests that the retrieval of AOD through satellite data is able to characterise the distribution of AOD over Mohal. However, further efforts are needed in order to eliminate systematic errors in the existing Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) algorithm. The transport of desert dust and anthropogenic aerosol during high aerosol loading days caused a significant reduction in surface-reaching solar radiation by 149 and 117%, respectively. This large reduction in surface-reaching solar radiation increased the atmospheric heating rate by 0.93 and 0.72?K?day^?1, respectively. This study indicates significant climatic implications due to the transport of aerosols in the northwestern Indian Himalaya.     

Aerosol characteristics during winter fog at Agra,North India

Simultaneous measurements on physical, chemical and optical properties of aerosols over a tropical semi-arid location, Agra in north India, were undertaken during December 2004. The average concentration of total suspended particulates (TSP) increased by about 1.4 times during intense foggy/hazy days. Concentrations of SO₄ ²⁻, NO₃ ⁻, NH₄ ⁺ and Black Carbon (BC) aerosols increased by 4, 2, 3.5 and 1.7 times, respectively during that period. Aerosols were acidic during intense foggy/hazy days but the fog water showed alkaline nature, mainly due to the neutralizing capacity of NH₄ aerosols. Trajectory analyses showed that air masses were predominantly from NW direction, which might be responsible for transport of BC from distant and surrounding local sources. Diurnal variation of BC on all days showed a morning and an evening peak that were related to domestic cooking and vehicular emissions, apart from boundary layer changes. OPAC (Optical properties of aerosols and clouds) model was used to compute the optical properties of aerosols. Both OPAC-derived and observed aerosol optical depth (AOD) values showed spectral variation with high loadings in the short wavelengths (<1 μm). AOD value at 0.5 μm wavelength was significantly high during intense foggy/hazy days (1.22) than during clear sky or less foggy/hazy days (0.63). OPAC-derived Single scattering albedo (SSA) was 0.84 during the observational period, indicating significant contribution of absorbing aerosols. However, the BC mass fraction to TSP increased by only 1% during intense foggy/hazy days and thereby did not show any impact on SSA during that period. A large increase was observed in the shortwave (SW) atmospheric (ATM) forcing during intense foggy/hazy days (+75.8 W/m²) than that during clear sky or less foggy/hazy days (+38 W/m²), mainly due to increase in absorbing aerosols. Whereas SW forcing at surface (SUF) increased from −40 W/m² during clear sky or less foggy/hazy days to −76 W/m² during intense foggy/hazy days, mainly due to the scattering aerosols like SO₄ ^2-.     

Impact of aerosols on total columnar ozone measurements—a case study using satellite and ground-based instruments

Long-term record of global distribution of ozone during 1979 to 2001, from Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS), over a tropical urban environment has been analyzed and compared with ground measurements. Increase in atmospheric UV-absorbing aerosol loading has been observed after 1991. TOMS columnar ozone during 1979 to 2001 suggested a clear Gaussian pattern of minimum concentration in winter months and maximum in summer months. TOMS ozone showed good correlation with the ground measured columnar ozone during winter months and negative correlation with Sunburning Ultraviolet (SUV) (280–370 nm), UVA and aerosol optical depth (AOD).     

非洲地区大气气溶胶光学厚度时空变化及亚速尔高压对沙尘越大西洋传输的影响

研究了非洲地区大气气溶胶光学厚度（AOD）的时空变化及沙尘气溶胶越大西洋海区的传输。结果表明：1）源于撒哈拉沙漠的沙尘及其随赤道东风向西输送使得沙尘气溶胶成为非洲沙漠地区和紧邻的大西洋海区的主要气溶胶组分;AOD高值区和沙尘气溶胶光学厚度高值区在1—7月随赤道辐合带北移同步向北移动,而在8—12月则向南回撤。2）刚果盆地大气气溶胶主要为热带雨林和稀树草原排放的有机碳（OC）和黑碳（BC）气溶胶;其中与生物质燃烧源排放有关的OC、BC高值主要集中在干季（6—9月）的后半段（8—9月）;而生物源OC排放全年连续,其排放峰值出现于雨季开始时;生物质燃烧排放高值期与生物源排放高值期前后相继,形成干季（尤其是后半段）时期的OC、BC光学厚度高值。3）亚马逊河入海口地区主要气溶胶组分为海盐气溶胶,9—11月该区风力输送增强,风向由东南风转变为东风,海盐进入亚马逊河入海口处,形成AOD和海盐气溶胶光学厚度高值区。4）撒哈拉沙漠沙尘气溶胶向大西洋传输的偏北月份为7—9月、偏南月份为1—3月;2000—2016年海区沙尘气溶胶的传输路径存在向南移动的变化趋势,与同期亚速尔高压的增强和沙尘传输路径以北北风分量的增强以及赤道辐合带的移动一致。上述研究结果揭示了利用大气气溶胶时空变化特征反映区域大气环流和气候变化的可能性。     

Some features of winter aerosol and water vapor characteristics over Agra, a semi-arid location in India

Reported in this article are the results of the analysis of extensive observations of aerosol optical, micro-physical characteristics, and precipitable water content (PWC) that have been carried out using compact, multi-band solar radiometers, over a semi-arid station, Agra (27°10′N, 78°05′E, 169 m AMSL) during winter 2004. The aerosol optical depth (AOD), Angstrom wavelength exponent (α), and PWC show, higher values on hazy- and foggy-days and lower values on clear-days. The turbidity coefficient (β) shows higher values for smaller values of α and vice versa. The aerosol size spectra exhibit bi-modal distribution with abundance of accumulation-mode particles during fog and haze occasions, and relatively coarse-mode particles on clear-days. The above features have been explained with co-located PWC and surface-level meteorological parameters. The NOAA HYSPLIT five-day back trajectories indicate the influence of trans-boundary pollution transport over the experimental station during the study period.     

Synoptic weather conditions and aerosol episodes over Indo-Gangetic Plains,India

The present study focuses on identifying the main atmospheric circulation characteristics associated with aerosol episodes (AEs) over Kanpur, India during the period 2001–2010. In this respect, mean sea level pressure (MSLP) and geopotential height of 700 hPa (Z700) data obtained from the NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis Project were used along with daily Terra-MODIS AOD₅₅₀ data. The analysis identifies 277 AEs [AOD₅₀₀ >  \( \overline{AOD} \) ₅₀₀ + 1STDEV (standard deviation)] over Kanpur corresponding to 13.2 % of the available AERONET dataset, which are seasonally distributed as 12.5, 9.1, 14.7 and 18.6 % for winter (Dec–Feb), pre-monsoon (Mar–May), monsoon (Jun–Sep) and post-monsoon (Oct–Nov), respectively. The post-monsoon and winter AEs are mostly related to anthropogenic emissions, in contrast to pre-monsoon and monsoon episodes when a significant component of dust is found. The multivariate statistical methods Factor and Cluster Analysis are applied on the dataset of the AEs days’ Z700 patterns over south Asia, to group them into discrete clusters. Six clusters are identified and for each of them the composite means for MSLP and Z700 as well as their anomalies from the mean 1981–2010 climatology are studied. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of Terra-MODIS AOD₅₅₀ over Indian sub-continent is examined to identify aerosol hot-spot areas for each cluster, while the SPRINTARS model simulations reveal incapability in reproducing the large anthropogenic AOD, suggesting need of further improvement in model emission inventories. This work is the first performed over India aiming to analyze and group the atmospheric circulation patterns associated with AEs over Indo-Gangetic Plains and to explore the influence of meteorology on the accumulation of aerosols.     

Aerosol physical characteristics at Bhubaneswar, East coast of India

Physical characterization of atmospheric aerosols was carried out using various equipments like Grimm's spectrophotometer, Aetholometer and Microtops-II at Bhubaneswar, a coastal city in the east coast of India. Meteorological parameters were recorded on-line with an automatic weather station, which showed weather relatively free from extreme events with high humidity during the period. The pre-monsoon months showed an increase in aerosol mass in the higher size ranges. The black carbon (BC) showed maximum values during winter which may be due to various anthropogenic activities like biomass burning and forest fire as well as dry conditions conducive to transport from far off places. The α values representing aerosol size distribution and β values showing the total aerosol concentration in vertical air column rose simultaneously in pre-monsoon months to attain maximum values during February–March 2008. The AOD was also correlated with PM-10 and BC concentrations.     

Fine mode aerosol chemistry over a tropical urban atmosphere: characterization of ionic and carbonaceous species

An extensive aerosol sampling program was conducted during January-December 2006 over Kolkata (22o33?? N and 88o20?? E), a mega-city in eastern India in order to understand the sources, distributions and properties of atmospheric fine mode aerosol (PM_2.5). The primary focus of this study is to determine the relative contribution of natural and anthropogenic as well as local and transported components to the total fine mode aerosol loading and their seasonal distributions over the metropolis. The average concentrations of fine mode aerosol was found to be 71.2?±?25.2???gm^-3 varying between 34.5???gm^-3 in monsoon and 112.6???gm^-3 in winter. The formation pathways of major secondary aerosol components like nitrate and sulphate in different seasons are discussed. A long range transport of dust aerosol from arid and semi-arid regions of western India and beyond was observed during pre-monsoon which significantly enriched the total aerosol concentration. Vehicular emissions, biomass burning and transported dust particles were the major sources of PM_2.5 from local and continental regions whereas sea-salt aerosol was the major source of PM_2.5 from marine source regions.     

气溶胶辐射效应在华东地区一次雾霾过程中的作用

利用WRF/Chem(Weather Research and Forecasting Model coupled with Chemistry)模拟了2013年12月华东地区一次雾、霾事件气溶胶辐射反馈效应对气象场和大气质量的影响。通过3个不同气溶胶浓度设置的试验区分气溶胶浓度不同辐射效应的影响。比较不同试验得出,本次雾、霾过程中,不论是气溶胶直接、半直接辐射效应还是间接效应均使污染地区短波辐射减少、2 m气温下降、大气边界层高度降低,不利于水汽与污染物的扩散,空气污染进一步加重,雾结构进一步稳定,并使雾的持续时间延长,发展高度更高;对于化学场来说,气溶胶直接、半直接辐射效应使污染地区PM_(2.5)浓度增大、消光系数增大、氮氧化物浓度增大,臭氧浓度降低;间接辐射效应使PM_(2.5)浓度和消光系数进一步增大,氮氧化物、臭氧浓度降低。综上所述,气溶胶辐射效应能使大气污染加重,并利于雾的发生、发展。     

Competing impact of anthropogenic emissions and meteorology on the distribution of trace gases over Indian region

The spatial distribution of trace gases exhibit large spatial heterogeneity over the Indian region with an elevated pollution loading over densely populated Gangetic Plains (IGP). The contending role and importance of anthropogenic emissions and meteorology in deciding the trace gases level and distribution over Indian region, however, is poorly investigated. In this paper, we use an online regional chemistry transport model (WRF/Chem) to simulate the spatial distribution of trace gases over Indian region during one representative month of only three meteorological seasons namely winter, spring/summer and monsoon. The base simulation, using anthropogenic emissions from SEAC⁴RS inventory, is used to simulate the general meteorological conditions and the realistic spatial distribution of trace gases. A sensitivity simulation is conducted after removing the spatial heterogeneity in the anthropogenic emissions, i.e., with spatially uniform emissions to decouple the role of anthropogenic emissions and meteorology and their role in controlling the distribution of trace gases over India. The concentration levels of Ozone, CO, SO₂ and NO₂ were found to be lower over IGP when the emissions are uniform over India. A comparison of the base run with the sensitivity run highlights that meteorology plays a dominant role in controlling the spatial distribution of relatively longer-lived species like CO and secondary species like Ozone while short-lived species like NO_X and SO₂ are predominantly controlled by the spatial variability in anthropogenic emissions over the Indian region.     

Microphysical,chemical and optical aerosol properties in the Baltic Sea region

The microphysical structure, chemical composition and prehistory of aerosol are related to the aerosol optical properties and radiative effect in the UV spectral range. The aim of this work is the statistical mapping of typical aerosol scenarios and adjustment of regional aerosol parameters. The investigation is based on the in situ measurements in Preila (55.55° N, 21.00° E), Lithuania, and the AERONET data from the Gustav Dalen Tower (58 N, 17 E), Sweden.Clustering of multiple characteristics enabled to distinguish three aerosol types for clear-sky periods: 1) clean maritime–continental aerosol; 2) moderately polluted maritime–continental aerosol; 3) polluted continental aerosol. Differences between these types are due to significant differences in aerosol number and volume concentration, effective radius of volume distribution, content of SO₄⁻ ions and Black Carbon, as well as different vertical profiles of atmospheric relative humidity. The UV extinction, aerosol optical depth (AOD) and the Ångstrom coefficient α increased with the increasing pollution. The value α = 1.96 was observed in the polluted continental aerosol that has passed over central and eastern Europe and southern Russia. Reduction of the clear-sky UV index against the aerosol-free atmosphere was of 4.5%, 27% and 41% for the aerosol types 1, 2 and 3, respectively.     

Comparison between urban aerosol products retrieved from collocated Cimel and Prede Sun/sky radiometers at Pune, India

To comprehend the characteristics of heterogeneous aerosols, apart from some thematic multi-institutional, multi-platform and multi-parameter campaigns conducted at several places over the globe, presently two major ground-based networks, involving Cimel (AERONET) and Prede (SKYNET) Sun/sky photometers/radiometers have been in progress. In this paper, we report the results of a study that has been undertaken to compare the performance and data products of Cimel and Prede instruments, which were operated concurrently for a period of about 2 years, at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, India. The results show a good agreement in the direct Sun observations (aerosol optical depth). The results are also substantiated by making comparison with surface-level black carbon aerosol mass concentration, apart from comparison of other parameters. With regard to the retrieved products such as aerosol size distribution, Prede shows more or less equal concentration of fine mode and relatively more concentration of coarse mode aerosol as compared to those measured by the Cimel. Moreover, the single scattering albedo values measured by the Prede overestimate those observed by the Cimel. These deviations are found to be primarily due to the nature of aerosol loading (turbidity) in the sensing region which is sensitive to the data retrieval techniques including model assumptions employed in both networks. The results of the present study are found useful for multidimensional mapping of aerosol characteristics by integrating the products from both AERONET and SKYNET monitoring stations and thereby help understanding better the impact of aerosols on climate.     

利用MODIS卫星资料对中国中东部和印度次大陆气溶胶特性的分析

利用Terra和Aqua卫星上的MODIS探测反演气溶胶产品,比较分析了中国中东部和印度次大陆地区的气溶胶物理特性的异同。研究结果表明:中国中东部气溶胶类型以烟尘为主,印度次大陆地区东、西部分别以烟尘和沙尘为主。两地气溶胶光学厚度均有明显的年际变化,冬季低,夏季高。在夏季,两地烟尘所占比例都很大,且光学厚度也大,故两地污染状况都比较严重。总体来说,中国中东部地区污染程度要高于印度次大陆地区。     

Aerosol characteristics over the Tibetan Plateau simulated with a coupled aerosol–climate model (FGOALS-f3-L) 耦合气溶胶气候模式FGOALS-f3-L模拟青藏高原地区气溶胶特性

This study presents the simulated aerosol spatiotemporal characteristics over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) with a newly developed coupled aerosol–climate model (FGOALS-f3-L). The aerosol properties are simulated over the TP for the period 2002–11. The results indicate that soil dust, sulfate, and carbonaceous aerosols (black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC) and BC/OC) account for 53.6%, 32.2%, and 14.2% of the total aerosol mass over the TP, respectively. The simulated aerosol surface mass concentrations and aerosol optical depths (AODs) are evaluated with ground-based and satellite observations, respectively. Underestimations of the aerosol surface mass concentration are found at the Lhasa site, especially for BC and OC. The spatial distribution and interannual variation of AOD are consistent with MODIS observations, with the RMSE of 0.081 and bias of 0.036. Due to the uncertainty of the parameterization of dust emissions, the model's performance in summer and autumn is much better than that in spring.摘要基于新耦合气溶胶气候模式FGOALS-f3-L模拟分析了2002–2011年青藏高原地区气溶胶时空分布特征.结果表明:青藏高原地区, 沙尘,硫酸盐,碳质气溶胶 (包括黑碳,有机碳和混合碳) 地表质量浓度分别占比为53.6%, 32.2%, 14.2%;在拉萨站点, 模拟的气溶胶地表质量浓度被低估, 尤其是黑碳和有机碳气溶胶;模拟的气溶胶光学厚度 (AOD) 时空分布与卫星观测结果较为一致, 均方根误差和偏差分别为0.081和0.036;由于模式中沙尘排放参数化的不确定性, 模式对AOD的模拟效果在夏季和秋季优于春季     

Microphysical, chemical and optical aerosol properties in the Baltic Sea region

The microphysical structure, chemical composition and prehistory of aerosol are related to the aerosol optical properties and radiative effect in the UV spectral range. The aim of this work is the statistical mapping of typical aerosol scenarios and adjustment of regional aerosol parameters. The investigation is based on the in situ measurements in Preila (55.55° N, 21.00° E), Lithuania, and the AERONET data from the Gustav Dalen Tower (58 N, 17 E), Sweden.Clustering of multiple characteristics enabled to distinguish three aerosol types for clear-sky periods: 1) clean maritime–continental aerosol; 2) moderately polluted maritime–continental aerosol; 3) polluted continental aerosol. Differences between these types are due to significant differences in aerosol number and volume concentration, effective radius of volume distribution, content of SO₄⁻ ions and Black Carbon, as well as different vertical profiles of atmospheric relative humidity. The UV extinction, aerosol optical depth (AOD) and the Ångstrom coefficient α increased with the increasing pollution. The value α = 1.96 was observed in the polluted continental aerosol that has passed over central and eastern Europe and southern Russia. Reduction of the clear-sky UV index against the aerosol-free atmosphere was of 4.5%, 27% and 41% for the aerosol types 1, 2 and 3, respectively.     

Ground-Based In Situ Measurements of Near-Surface Aerosol Mass Concentration over Anantapur: Heterogeneity in Source Impacts

Surface measurements of aerosol physical properties were made at Anantapur(14.62°N,77.65 °E,331 m a.s.l),a semiarid rural site in India,during August 2008-July 2009.Measurements included the segregated sizes of aerosolsas as well as total mass concentration and size distributions of aerosols measured at low relative humidity(RH<75%) using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance(QCM) in the 25-0.05 μm aerodynamic diameter range.The hourly average total surface aerosol mass concentration in a day varied from 15 to 70 μg m-3,with a mean value of 34.02±9.05μgm-3 for the entire study period.A clear diurnal pattern appeared in coarse,accumulation and nucleation-mode particle concentrations,with two local maxima occurring in early morning and late evening hours.The concentration of coarse-mode particles was high during the summer season,with a maximum concentration of 11.81±0.98μgm-3 in the month of April,whereas accumulationmode concentration was observed to be high in the winter period contributed >68% to the total aerosol mass concentration.Accumulation aerosol mass fraction,A f(=Ma/Mt) was highest during winter(mean value of Af～0.80) and lowest(Af～0.64) during the monsoon season.The regression analysis shows that both R eff and R m are dependent on coarse-mode aerosols.The relationship between the simultaneous measurements of daily mean aerosol optical depth at 500 nm(AOD500) and PM 2.5 mass concentration([PM2.5]) shows that surface-level aerosol mass concentration increases with the increase in columnar aerosol optical depth over the observation period.     

耦合气溶胶气候模式FGOALS-f3-L模拟青藏高原地区气溶胶特性

基于新耦合气溶胶气候模式FGOALS-f3-L模拟分析了2002-2011年青藏高原地区气溶胶时空分布特征.结果表明:青藏高原地区,沙尘,硫酸盐,碳质气溶胶(包括黑碳,有机碳和混合碳)地表质量浓度分别占比为53.6％,32.2％,14.2％;在拉萨站点,模拟的气溶胶地表质量浓度被低估,尤其是黑碳和有机碳气溶胶;模拟的气...     

Correlation between black carbon aerosols, carbon monoxide and tropospheric ozone over a tropical urban site

Black carbon aerosols plays an important role in the earth's radiative balance and little is known of their concentrations, distributions, source strength, and especially the aerosol chemistry of the developing world. The present study addresses the impact of back carbon aerosols on different atmospheric species like CO and tropospheric ozone over an urban environment, namely Hyderabad, India. Ozone concentration varies from 14 to 63 ppbv over the study area. Diurnal variations of ozone suggest that ozone concentration starts increasing gradually after sunrise, attaining a maximum value by evening time and decreasing gradually thereafter. Black carbon (BC) aerosol mass concentrations varies from 1471 to 11,175 ng m⁻³. The diurnal variations of BC suggest that the concentrations are increased by a factor of 2 during morning (06:00–09:00 h) and evening hours (18:00 to 22:00 h) compared to afternoon hours. Positive correlation has been observed between BC and CO (r²=0.74) with an average slope of 6.4×10⁻³ g BC/g CO. The slope between black carbon aerosol mass concentration and tropospheric ozone suggests that every 1 μg m⁻³ increase in black carbon aerosol mass concentration causes a 3.5 μg m⁻³ reduction in tropospheric ozone. The results have been discussed in detail in the paper.