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.     

Estimation of the Aerosol Radiative Effect over the Tibetan Plateau Based on the Latest CALIPSO Product

Based on the CALIPSO (Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation) Version 4.10 products released on 8 November 2016, the Level 2 (L2) aerosol product over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is evaluated and the aerosol radiative effect is also estimated in this study. As there are still some missing aerosol data points in the daytime CALIPSO Version 4.10 L2 product, this study re-calculated the aerosol extinction coefficient to explore the aerosol radiative effect over the TP based on the CALIPSO Level 1 (L1) and CloudSat 2B-CLDCLASS-LIDAR products. The energy budget estimation obtained by using the AODs (aerosol optical depths) from calculated aerosol extinction coefficient as an input to a radiative transfer model shows better agreement with the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) and CloudSat 2B-FLXHR-LIDAR observations than that with the input of AODs from aerosol extinction coefficient from CALIPSO Version 4.10 L2 product. The radiative effect and heating rate of aerosols over the TP are further simulated by using the calculated aerosol extinction coefficient. The dust aerosols may heat the atmosphere by retaining the energy in the layer. The instantaneous heating rate can be as high as 5.5 K day^–1 depending on the density of the dust layers. Overall, the dust aerosols significantly affect the radiative energy budget and thermodynamic structure of the air over the TP, mainly by altering the shortwave radiation budget. The significant influence of dust aerosols over the TP on the radiation budget may have important implications for investigating the atmospheric circulation and future regional and global climate.     

一次沙尘暴过程中沙尘气溶胶对云物理量和辐射强迫的影响

利用MOD IS Aqua卫星反演和装载在Aqua上的CERES仪器观测资料,讨论了我国北方地区2004年3月26~28日沙尘暴过程中沙尘气溶胶对云物理特性和辐射强迫的影响。初步结果表明,沙尘气溶胶明显改变了云的物理特性,使云滴变小,含水量及光学厚度减少,减弱了云的净辐射强迫,云的冷却效应受到了抑制,相当于大气层顶沙尘气溶胶的增温作用。     

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。      

Modeling Study of the Impact of Heterogeneous Reactions on Dust Surfaces on Aerosol Optical Depth and Direct Radiative Forcing over East Asia in Springtime

The spatial distributions and interannual variations of aerosol concentrations,aerosol optical depth(AOD) ,aerosol direct radiative forcings,and their responses to heterogeneous reactions on dust surfaces over East Asia in March 2006-10 were investigated by utilizing a regional coupled climate-chemistry/aerosol model. Anthropogenic aerosol concentrations(inorganic+carbonaceous) were higher in March 2006 and 2008,whereas soil dust reached its highest levels in March 2006 and 2010,resulting in stronger aerosol radiative forcings in these periods.The domain and five-year(2006-10) monthly mean concentrations of anthropogenic and dust aerosols,AOD,and radiative forcings at the surface(SURF) and at the top of the atmosphere(TOA) in March were 2.4μg m-3,13.1μg m-3,0.18,-19.0 W m-2,and-7.4 W m-2,respectively.Heterogeneous reactions led to an increase of total inorganic aerosol concentration;however,the ambient inorganic aerosol concentration decreased,resulting in a smaller AOD and weaker aerosol radiative forcings.In March 2006 and 2010,the changes in ambient inorganic aerosols,AOD,and aerosol radiative forcings were more evident.In terms of the domain and five-year averages,the total inorganic aerosol concentrations increased by 13.7%(0.17μg m-3) due to heterogeneous reactions,but the ambient inorganic aerosol concentrations were reduced by 10.5%(0.13μg m-3) .As a result,the changes in AOD,SURF and TOA radiative forcings were estimated to be-3.9%(-0.007) ,-1.7%(0.34 W m-2) ,and-4.3%(0.34 W m-2) ,respectively,in March over East Asia.     

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.     

黄土高原半干旱区典型日吸收性气溶胶综合观测分析

利用兰州大学半干旱气候与环境观测站的太阳光度计、激光雷达、微波辐射计综合观测资料,结合辐射传输模式分析了该地区秋季典型日2012年9月3~4日、21日和28日气溶胶物理特性、垂直分布特征,及其与气象条件的关系。研究时期的气溶胶主要为局地沙尘与人为污染混合气溶胶,吸收性明显,尺度较小。其中,4日西北风增强,远距离传输沙尘气溶胶,气溶胶光学厚度最大,粒子尺度明显增大。尝试利用灰色关联度法确定参考高度,分别为7.41 km、8.47 km、7.13 km和7.66 km,反演气溶胶消光系数,由此积分得到的光学厚度与太阳光度计观测值相关性可达0.975,反演效果较好。研究时期气溶胶的抬升主要受白天热力湍流作用,边界层发展,气溶胶向上传输,每日12时（当地时间,下同）至14时传输至最大高度,气溶胶抬升的高度对应大气加热率的高值区,低层加热率可达1 K d-1。气溶胶在大气层顶和地面造成负辐射强迫,分别为-12.707 W m-2、-25.398 W m-2,大气中表现为正辐射强迫,为12.692 W m-2,大气层顶的辐射强迫对气溶胶的物理特性最为敏感,当气溶胶吸收性明显时,大气层顶的瞬时辐射强迫会出现正值。     

Simulating Aerosol Optical Depth and Direct Radiative Effects over the Tibetan Plateau with a High-Resolution CAS FGOALS-f3 Model

Current global climate models cannot resolve the complex topography over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) due to their coarse resolution. This study investigates the impacts of horizontal resolution on simulating aerosol and its direct radiative effect (DRE) over the TP by applying two horizontal resolutions of about 100 km and 25 km to the Chinese Academy of Sciences Flexible Global Ocean-Atmosphere Land System (CAS FGOALS-f3) over a 10-year period. Compared to the AErosol RObotic NETwork observations, a high-resolution model (HRM) can better reproduce the spatial distribution and seasonal cycles of aerosol optical depth (AOD) compared to a low-resolution model (LRM). The HRM bias and RMSE of AOD decreased by 0.08 and 0.12, and the correlation coefficient increased by 0.22 compared to the LRM. An LRM is not sufficient to reproduce the aerosol variations associated with fine-scale topographic forcing, such as in the eastern marginal region of the TP. The difference between hydrophilic aerosols in an HRM and LRM is caused by the divergence of the simulated relative humidity (RH). More reasonable distributions and variations of RH are conducive to simulating hydrophilic aerosols. An increase of the 10-m wind speed in winter by an HRM leads to increased dust emissions. The simulated aerosol DREs at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) and at the surface by the HRM are –0.76 W m^–2 and –8.72 W m^–2 over the TP, respectively. Both resolution models can capture the key feature that dust TOA DRE transitions from positive in spring to negative in the other seasons.     

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.     

典型站点气溶胶对云特性的影响

结合Cloud Sat对云的主动观测和MODIS(MODerate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer)对气溶胶的被动反演,研究了典型站点气溶胶对云的宏观、微观和辐射特性的影响。结果表明,气溶胶对大陆性和海洋性站点的云均有显著影响。1)随气溶胶光学厚度(Aerosol Optical Depth,AOD)增加,水汽含量较弱站点的低层(高层)云量呈减小(增加)趋势,而水汽条件较强站点的各层云量均增大,且具有较高(较低)云顶的云层发生概率在各个站点都呈增加(减小)趋势。2)AOD的增大导致各站点云滴和冰晶粒子的有效半径均减小、大气层顶的短波和长波云辐射强迫均增强、短波云辐射强迫绝对值的加强更显著、长波云辐射强迫增加的幅度相对更大。3)气象要素在AOD大(小)值情况下的变化表明,大尺度动力条件并不能解释云的上述特性随AOD的显著改变。     

A study of aerosol properties over Lahore (Pakistan) by using AERONET data

It is well established that aerosols affect the climate in a variety of ways. In order to understand these effects, we require an insight into the properties of aerosols. In this paper we present a study of aerosol properties such as aerosol optical depth (AOD), single scattering albedo (SSA) and aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) over mega city of Lahore (Pakistan). The data from Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) have been used for the period December 2009 to October 2011. The seasonal average values of AOD, asymmetry parameter (ASY) and volume size distribution in coarse mode were observed to be highest in summer. On the other hand, the average values of Angstrom exponent (AE) and imaginary part of refractive index (RI) were found to be maximum in winter. The average value of real part of RI was found to be higher in spring than in all other seasons. The SSA exhibited an increasing trend with wavelength in the range 440 nm–1020 nm in spring, summer and fall indicating the dominance of coarse particles (usually dust). However, a decreasing trend was found in winter in the range 675 nm–1020 nm pointing towards the dominance of biomass and urban/industrial aerosols. As far as aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) is concerned, we have found that during the spring season ARF was lowest at the surface of Earth and highest at top of the atmosphere (TOA). This indicates that the atmosphere was warmer in spring than in all the remaining seasons.     

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.     

西北地区气溶胶光学特性及辐射影响

利用SACOL（兰州大学半干旱气候与环境观测站）2006~2012年AERONET（全球气溶胶自动监测网）level 2.0和太阳短波辐射计资料,分析了中国西北地区气溶胶的光学特性与辐射影响。利用辐射传输模式SBDART（平面平行大气辐射传输模式）检验TOA（大气层顶）处辐射强迫为正的原因。BOA（地表）、TOA、Atmosphere（大气）的辐射强迫年均值分别是-59.43 W m-2、-17.03 W m-2、42.40 W m-2,AOD（光学厚度,550 nm）年均值0.37,α（波段的波长指数,440~675 nm）年均值0.91,变化趋势与AOD位相相反,当AOD为0.3~2.2时,α很小（0.0~0.2）,表明粒子尺度很大。SSA（单次散射反照率,675 nm）年均值0.93,g（不对称因子,675 nm）年均值0.68,复折射指数（675 nm）实部年均值1.48,虚部0.007。复折射指数实部的年变化趋势与AOD一致,虚部与AOD反位相,所以西北地区多为粗模态散射性气溶胶。气溶胶对大气的加热率最大值出现在0~2 km,随高度递减。冬、夏半年在地表加热率分别是2.6 K d-1和0.6 K d-1;季节变化中,冬季、秋季、春季和夏季,在地表的加热率依次是2.5 K d-1、1.4 K d-1、1.2 K d-1和0.2 K d-1,主要因为秋季气溶胶的吸收性大于春季。地表反照率和SSA对TOA正辐射强迫贡献率分别是22.5%和77.5%。     

大气气溶胶的卫星遥感及其在气候和环境研究中的应用

卫星遥感可以获得全球范围的大气气溶胶光学特性,目前国内外已有多颗卫星观测能够提供气溶胶特性的资料。本文综述性介绍国内外卫星遥感气溶胶特性方面的研究进展和成果,并讨论了卫星遥感资料在气候和环境研究领域中的应用。主要内容包括:极轨/静止卫星平台搭载的被动遥感传感器及其反演气溶胶特性的方法;星载激光雷达获取气溶胶光学特性的方法;国内外正在研发的新一代卫星主、被动气溶胶遥感探测器;卫星气溶胶产品在气溶胶辐射强迫、气候效应、大尺度污染输送、区域空气质量监测等研究中的应用。     

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。     

东亚沙尘源区与下游地区气溶胶光学特性比较

利用AERONET观测资料从气候学的角度比较分析了2001-2011年东亚地区沙尘天气发生时沙尘源区和下游区大气气溶胶光学特性。结果表明：沙尘期间沙尘源区气溶胶光学厚度明显大于下游区,而Angstr?m波长指数却小于下游区,当沙尘暴出现时会降至零甚至负值。气溶胶粒子尺度体积谱分布除敦煌为单峰外,其余各站均呈双峰分布,香河和北京的细粒子浓度明显大于西北地区,这可能是由细的沙尘粒子和污染气溶胶共同造成。在440-1020 nm范围内,中国地区气溶胶单次散射反照率平均值为0.93,韩国和日本站分别为0.93和0.94。沙尘源区与下游区相比,复折射指数实部偏大,虚部偏小。总体来说,沙尘天气下东亚地区在4个波段内平均不对称因子为0.70。     

Regional aerosol optical depth characteristics from satellite observations: ACE‐1, TARFOX and ACE‐2 results

Analysis of the aerosol properties during 3 recent international field campaigns (ACE‐1, TARFOX and ACE‐2) are described using satellite retrievals from NOAA AVHRR data. Validation of the satellite retrieval procedure is performed with airborne, shipboard, and land‐based sunphotometry during ACE‐2. The intercomparison between satellite and surface optical depths has a correlation coefficient of 0.93 for 630 nm wavelength and 0.92 for 860 nm wavelength. The standard error of estimate is 0.025 for 630 nm wavelength and 0.023 for 860 nm wavelength. Regional aerosol properties are examined in composite analysis of aerosol optical properties from the ACE‐1, TARFOX and ACE‐2 regions. ACE‐1 and ACE‐2 regions have strong modes in the distribution of optical depth around 0.1, but the ACE‐2 tails toward higher values yielding an average of 0.16 consistent with pollution and dust aerosol intrusions. The TARFOX region has a noticeable mode of 0.2, but has significant spread of aerosol optical depth values consistent with the varied continental aerosol constituents off the eastern North American Coast.     

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.     

Direct Radiative Forcing of Anthropogenic Aerosols over Oceans from Satellite Observations

Anthropogenic aerosols play an important role in the atmospheric energy balance. Anthropogenic aerosol optical depth (AOD) and its accompanying shortwave radiative forcing (RF) are usually simulated by nu- merical models. Recently, with the development of space-borne instruments and sophisticated retrieval algorithms, it has become possible to estimate aerosol radiative forcing based on satellite observations. In this study, we have estimated shortwave direct radiative forcing due to anthropogenic aerosols over oceans in all-sky conditions by combining clouds and the Single Scanner Footprint data of the Clouds and Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES/SSF) experiment, which provide measurements of upward shortwave fluxes at the top of atmosphere, with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol and cloud products. We found that globally averaged aerosol radiative forcing over oceans in the clear-sky conditions and all-sky conditions were -1.03±0.48 W m-2 and -0.34 ±0.16 W m-2, respectively. Direct radiative forcing by anthropogenic aerosols shows large regional and seasonal variations. In some regions and in particular seasons, the magnitude of direct forcing by anthropogenic aerosols can be comparable to the forcing of greenhouse gases. However, it shows that aerosols caused the cooling effect, rather than warming effect from global scale, which is different from greenhouse gases.