Seasonality and Latitudinal Variation of Water Vapour and Aerosol Optical Thickness and Their relationship Over Tropical Indian Ocean

Aerosol and water vapour are very important element in the Earth’s climate system which has direct role in the Earth’s radiation budget. In this paper the seasonality, latitudinal distribution and the relationship of aerosol optical thickness (AOD) and water vapour (WV) using MODIS Level 3 monthly data from 2001 to 2008 are analysed. The analysis shows that AOD (0.55 μm) values reach maximum during southwest monsoon and remain minimum during northeast monsoon period. The Equatorial Indian Ocean shows minimum AOD (0.115 to 0.153) throughout the year compared to Arabian Sea (0.208 to 0.613) and Bay of Bengal (0.214 to 0.351). Arabian Sea shows high variation and maximum value of AOD compared to Bay of Bengal and Equatorial Indian Ocean. During southwest monsoon WV over Bay of Bengal was found higher in concentration compared to Arabian Sea and Equitorial Indian Ocean throughout the study period. Comparison between Arabian Sea (2.98 cm to 5.07 cm) and Bay of Bengal (3.49 cm to 5.94 cm) shows that WV concentration is less in Arabian Sea throughout the year. The analysis of correlation between WV and AOD was found to be inconsistent. However, AOD and WV shows a strong positive correlation for whole year (Mean R² =0.90) in the Equitorial Indian Ocean region except in the months of January, February and March. In general, the correlation between WV and AOD is found to be strongly positive for oceanic aerosol (sea salt) in low water vapour condition.     

Variability of Total Suspended Matter in the Northern Coastal Bay of Bengal as Observed from Satellite Data

The coastal regions of northern Bay of Bengal (BoB) are one of the most turbid areas owing to the large freshwater discharge from the three major river systems. This study is conducted to investigate the seasonal and interannual variability of total suspended matter (TSM) in the northern BoB. TSM concentration derived from medium resolution imaging spectrometer for the period 2002–2011 is used for this study. TSM concentration is observed to be the highest during summer monsoon season along the north-eastern region, off the Ganges–Brahmaputra river mouth. The variability of the TSM concentration depicts the role of river runoff associated with the summer monsoon in influencing the same. It is observed that the sediment concentration tapers away towards the offshore regions with the maximum extent observed up to 21.5°N latitude. Interannual variability is also observed with highest TSM concentrations occurring in the years 2003, 2008 and 2011 and least during 2004. Time series analysis performed at three major river discharge regions illustrated the distinct and highly variable nature of TSM dynamics prevailing in the northern BoB.     

Variability of Altimetric Range Correction Parameters over Indian Tropical Region using JASON-1 & JASON-2 Radar Altimeters

Region-specific atmospheric range correction maps are generated over the Indian tropical region from Jason-1 & Jason-2 radar altimeters data. Seasonal and spatial variability of wet tropospheric correction (WTC), ionospheric correction (IC), dry tropospheric correction (DTC), and sea state bias (SSB) correction are analyzed over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Two year atmospheric range correction data from JASON-1 (2008) & JASON-2 altimeters (2009) has been analyzed where each Jason cycle is exactly 9.9156?days repeat. The monthly and yearly mean variation of the range correction parameters has been studied over the Indian continent. For precise study, four different regions were selected as the Region of Interest in the North & South of the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. WTC, Significant Wave Height (SWH), Wind Speed (WS) and SSB show the higher values during monsoon months. The yearly mean WTC over Indian Tropical region was 26.22?cm in 2008 and 26.20?cm in 2009. SSB Correction values mainly depend on the SWH and wind speed. The yearly mean SSB correction over Indian Tropical region was 6.87?cm in 2008 and 7.02?cm in 2009. DTC values are less during monsoon season and it shows a high value in the month of January. The yearly mean DTC over Indian Tropical region was 230.42?cm in 2008 and 230.43?cm in 2009.The IC values mainly depend on frequency and total electron content (TEC) in the ionosphere which further depends on the solar activity. The yearly mean IC over Indian Tropical region was higher in 2008 (2.98?cm) in comparison to mean IC in 2009 (2.29?cm). This study is useful to understand the variability of atmospheric correction parameters especially over Indian continent.     

Effect of dust storm on ocean color and snow parameters

The present study clearly shows the influence of dust storms on chlorophyll bloom in the offshore region of the Arabian Sea, with a time lag of few days, during the pre-monsoon season. Various satellite derived parameters over the Arabian Sea, Himalayan and Tibet snow covered regions show large changes due to the influence of dust storms. The MODIS snow albedo gives unreliable values under the influence of dust storms due to increase in the aerosol loading over these regions and snow albedo product must be used in combination with snow pixel counts during the dust storm season. A detailed study is required for the quantitative evaluation of dust storms on the chlorophyll blooms in the Arabian Sea region and on the snow parameters in the Himalayan region.     

A comparison of MODIS, NCEP, and TMI sea surface temperature datasets

The monthly average sea surface temperature (SST) datasets of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), NCEP (National Center for Environmental Prediction) and TMI (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager) are compared for the period March 2000 to June 2003. Large discrepancies (0.5 K->1 K) are found over extensive areas: the tropical Atlantic, tropical western Pacific, Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and the storm tracks. Many of these discrepancies are related to the biases inherent in the infrared and microwave retrieval methods. Probable causes for these biases include cirrus contamination, insufficient corrections for water vapor absorption and aerosol attenuation in infrared retrieval as well as uncertainty in surface emissivity in microwave retrieval. The SST difference patterns bear close resemblance to the patterns of distribution of aerosols, cirrus, atmospheric water vapor and surface wind speed at certain regions. Correlations between SST difference and aerosol optical depth, column water vapor and surface wind speed in some areas are high (>0.75). These biases have to be adjusted in order for the SST datasets to be more useful for climate studies.     

In Situ Time Series Estimation of Downwelling Diffuse Attenuation Coefficient at Southern Bay of Bengal

The present study is aimed to determine the bio-optical characteristics of oceanic waters during South west monsoon in Bay of Bengal using hyperspectral radiometer. The variability of diffuse attenuation coefficient, K_d(λ), with chlorophyll a showed a good relation at shorter wavelengths, indicating the effect of phytoplankton on K_d(λ). The determination coefficient, R² at 412, 443, 490 and 555 nm were greater than 0.931. A good linear relation between K_d(490) and K_d(λ) was observed at shorter wavelengths. These relationships of K_d(λ) provides a platform to study the underwater light field during Southwest monsoon in Bay of Bengal.     

Implementing a Spatial Model to Derive Potential Fishing Zones in the Northern Bay of Bengal Lying Adjacent to West Bengal Coast,India

Potential fishing zones (PFZ’s) are those regions where the fishes aggregate due to an abundance of food and they are demarcated by tracing those regions in the ocean, where a sharp sea surface temperature (SST) gradient along with optimal chlorophyll (Chl) concentration co-exists at a given time. In this regard, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) disseminates the daily PFZ forecasts in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea to aid the fishermen community. The present study is an endeavor to develop a local spatial model derived Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) in the northern Bay of Bengal (nBoB) lying adjacent to the West Bengal coast. Satellite derived SST and chlorophyll data obtained for two consecutive winter seasons of 2010–11 and 2011–12 were used to generate line density (LD) raster. Shapefiles of INCOIS predicted PFZs were overlaid on these LD raster to extract the corresponding pixel values. Histogram ranges of the extracted pixels were fixed and same values lying in the LD raster of both SST and chlorophyll other than INCOIS PFZs were detected by a spatial model in ERDAS. The PFZs thus derived were validated against the ground fish catch data and it was observed that good fish catch was seen in the model derived additional PFZs also. The catch per unit effort (CPUE) values was found to be very close to that of the CPUE value of PFZ advisories of INCOIS. However, the CPUE in the non PFZ areas were significantly lower than the former two categories.     

中国海洋上空细粒子气溶胶与短寿命痕量气体的时空关系

定量分析气溶胶与痕量气体之间的时空变化关系有助于进一步研究气粒转化。本文采用2006年—2015年MODIS气溶胶光学厚度(AOD)、细粒子模态比(FMF)和OMI痕量气体(SO_2、NO_2和HCHO)数据,对黄海、东海和南海区域上空的细粒子气溶胶与痕量气体进行定量分析。先对气溶胶和痕量气体作均值分析发现:AOD_(fine)、SO_2、NO_2和HCHO的均值在黄海、南海、东海均依次减小;再对气溶胶对痕量气体的敏感度分析发现:黄海地区的AOD_(fine)对SO_2最敏感,敏感度为0.424,这与中国东部沿海城市的人为排放有关;而东海和南海地区对HCHO的敏感度较高,依次为0.664和0.545,主要受东南亚和中国南方地区生物质燃烧影响。最后,对3个区域的气溶胶与痕量气体按季节作相关性分析发现:黄海地区AOD_(fine)在夏秋两季与SO_2的相关性较强(R0.5),主要由于夏秋两季的温湿度大,利于发生气—粒转化;东海地区夏季HCHO与AOD_(fine)相关性较明显(R=0.57);南海春季HCHO与AOD_(fine)相关性较好(R=0.57),呈现出区域与季节性的变化。最终发现,气溶胶与痕量气体随着时空变化存在相关关系。     

Phytoplankton Variability in the Bay of Bengal During Winter Monsoon Using Oceansat-1 Ocean Colour Monitor Data

Quantitative assessment of chlorophyll-a concentration and its variability is an important input for the oceanic primary productivity modeling and also a key parameter in the global carbon cycle studies. This present work is focused to understand the spatial and temporal variability of phytoplankton in the Bay of Bengal (BOB) during winter monsoon season of October 1999 to March 2000 using Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) sensor onboard OCEANSAT-1 satellite. Daily chlorophyll-a images from OCM sensor were used in the study. Efforts were also put to study the correlation between chlorophyll-a concentrations; NOAA-AVHRR derived Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and QuickSCAT scatterometer derived wind stress data. Analysis of the chlorophyll-a images shows the presence of extensive phytoplankton blooms during mid December 1999 to early January 2000 in the western part of BOB. The bloom dominated regions also exhibit reduced SST (∼24–27°C) and enhanced wind stress indicating upwelling processes leading nutrient entrainment in the upper column of the sea surface. Apart from this, higher phytoplankton biomass associated with the fresh water reverine plumes has also been observed. During October 1999 a super cyclone was active in the BOB, as increase in the productivity was observed in the early November 1999 images of OCM data due to the cyclone induced churning of the water column.     

中国东部海域气溶胶光学厚度时空变化研究

结合船基海上现场实测资料与卫星遥感MODIS光学厚度资料,分析了中国东部海域气溶胶光学厚度(AOD)的季节变化和地理分布特征。中国东部海域平均气溶胶光学厚度存在以中纬度为中心的纬向分布;同时受到陆源物质的影响,近海气溶胶光学厚度大于远海,且随着离海岸距离变大有线性递减的趋势。受沙尘、季风气候的影响,各海域气溶胶光学厚度存在明显季节变化和分布特征。渤海、黄海及东海有类似的变化特征,春季都受到沙尘气溶胶的影响,气溶胶平均光学厚度值为全年最高0.12,并且对东海的影响最明显;夏季最小,秋、冬季逐渐变大。     

Impact of aerosols on terrestrial gross primary productivity in North China using an improved boreal ecosystem productivity simulator with satellite-based aerosol optical depth

ABSTRACT

Atmospheric aerosols can alter the direct and diffuse components of global solar radiation, which further influences terrestrial gross primary productivity (GPP) via photosynthesis. To investigate the impact of aerosols on GPP, GPP is modeled using the Boreal Ecosystem Productivity Simulator (BEPS) under two aerosol scenarios (S1& S2) over cropland and grassland ecosystems in the highly polluted North China. In S1, the aerosol-effect is not considered and an original empirical method is used when estimating direct and diffuse solar radiation in BEPS. In S2, BEPS is improved by a new empirical method which incorporates the impact of aerosols using the remote sensing-based aerosol optical depth (AOD). Results suggest that aerosols can reduce GPP of the sunlit leaves by decreasing direct solar radiation, but increase GPP of the shaded leaves by increasing diffuse solar radiation. The impact of aerosols on GPP is more significant over the cropland ecosystem (p < 0.05) with a more complex canopy structure during the peak period of the growing season. Furthermore, an AOD value of 0.3–0.6 with a diffuse fraction (the fraction of diffuse solar radiation in global solar radiation) around 30-40% can largely increase total GPP over the cropland ecosystem. The study improves the accuracy of GPP modeling using BEPS by highlighting the aerosol-effect on GPP via solar radiation over highly polluted regions.

Abbreviations: gross primary productivity (GPP); aerosol optical depth (AOD); boreal ecosystem productivity simulator (BEPS)     

Coastal upwelling off the southwest coast of India: observations and simulations

Spatial hydrographic data collected from August 2007 through May 2008 and the Princeton Ocean Model (POM) are utilized to explain and document the upwelling in the south eastern Arabian Sea (SEAS). The decrease in the magnitude of winds towards the coast favors local anti-cyclonic vorticity, resulting in the formation of cyclonic eddy and reversal of coastal currents. The Ekman transport due to alongshore winds, Ekman pumping due to wind stress curl, cyclonic eddy and southward West Indian Coastal Currents play different roles in the SEAS upwelling. In the offshore, wind stress curl leads to the formation of meso-scale eddies, resulting in Ekman pumping at the center and consequent upwelling. The rapid depth variation on the western side of Quilon Mount intensifies upwelling in the offshore. The upwelling Kelvin waves generated at the equator terminates in the Bay of Bengal and do not contribute to the SEAS upwelling. The possible role of local and remote winds, especially around Sri Lanka on the upwelling dynamics of SEAS is described utilizing POM. The Kelvin waves generated off the coast of Sri Lanka during the active phase of the summer monsoon also contribute to the upwelling dynamics off the west coast of India.     

Computerized Database of Salt Affected Soils for Agro‐climatic Regions in the Indo–Gangetic Plain of India Using GIS

Abstract

Indo_Gangetic Plain (IGP) of India that stretched from the foothills of Himalayas near the Punjab State to the Gangetic delta in West Bengal State was known for highly fertile soil and favorable climatic condition for highest production of rice‐wheat. Appearance of soil salinity in large areas of IGP caused a major concern due to loss of productivity. The salt affected soils maps of India (NRSA 1997) showed vast areas of salt affected soils distributed along the Gangetic Plain covering the States of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. In the analogue form, these maps contain voluminous data were difficult to handle without messing the whole dataset. An attempt was made to prepare a digitized database of salt affected soils to facilitate easy access, retrieval and map calculations required for reclamation and management of salt affected soil. The salt affected soils maps on 1:250, 000 scale were digitized for the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal using ILWIS. GIS. The Survey of India topomap was used for geo‐referencing and basemap preparation overlaying thematic layers for administrative and political boundaries, infrastructure, irrigation and drainage and settlements. The attribute data on physiography and the soil characteristics were stored in an attribute table and linked with the digitized polygons to prepare a relational database. Combining geo‐referenced (State) maps of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal using GIS, a composite map for Indo‐Gangetic plain was prepared. Four Agroclimatic regions (ACRs) and seventeen Agroclimatic zones (ACZs) were identified in the Indo‐Gangetic Plain (The Planning Commission of India) for planning and development of natural resources at regional level. The boundaries of ACZs and ACRs were delineated from the primary (master) database of IGP using ILWIS.GIS. The distribution of SAS polygons at regional and zonal level was delineated superimposing digitized boundaries of ACRs and ACZs over the master database of IGP. The state‐wise, region‐wise and zone‐wise extent of SAS was calculated. Soils were essentially saline at Lower‐ and Middle Gangetic Plain regions but highly variable and complex saline‐sodic in the Upper‐ and Trans‐Gangetic Plain regions. The area statistics showed that maximum SAS area occurred in ACR V (Upper Gangetic Plain) in Uttar Pradesh (UP) followed by ACR IV (Middle Gangetic Plain) in UP and Bihar, ACR III (Lower Gangetic Plain) in West Bengal and ACR VI (Trans‐Gangetic Plain) of Haryana and Punjab. Such database in digital format provides geo‐referenced, easy to access and retrievable, relational database comprising of thematic and attribute information of salt affected soils at state, regional and zonal level to facilitate overlay and map calculation of related data such as water quality, climatic, landform etc, useful for planning and decision making in reclamation and management of salt affected soils in IGP and other similar regions.     

Deriving Crop Phenology Metrics and Their Trends Using Times Series NOAA-AVHRR NDVI Data

In this study, an attempt has been made to derive the spatial patterns of temporal trends in phenology metrics and productivity of crops grown, at disaggregated level in Indo-Gangetic Plains of India (IGP), which are helpful in understanding the impact of climatic, ecological and socio-economic drivers. The NOAA-AVHRR NDVI PAL dataset from 1981 to 2001 was stacked as per the crop year and subjected to Savitzky-Golay filtering. For crop pixels, maximum and minimum values of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), their time of occurrence and total duration of kharif (June-October) and rabi (November–April) crop seasons were derived for each crop year and later subjected to pixel-wise regression with time to derive the rate and direction of change. The maximum NDVI value showed increasing trends across IGP during both kharif and rabi seasons indicating a general increase in productivity of crops. The trends in time of occurrence of peak NDVI during kharif dominated with rice showed that the maximum vegetative growth stage was happening early with time during study period across most of Punjab, North Haryana, Parts of Central and East Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Bihar and West Bengal. Only central parts of Haryana showed a delay in occurrence of maximum vegetative stage with time. During rabi, no significant trends in occurrence of peak NDVI were observed in most of Punjab and Haryana except in South Punjab and North Haryana where early occurrence of peak NDVI with time was observed. Most parts of Central and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, North Bihar and West Bengal showed a delay in occurrence of peak NDVI with time. In general, the rice dominating system was showing an increase in duration with time in Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, Central Uttar Pradesh and South Bihar whereas in some parts of North Bihar and West Bengal a decrease in the duration with time was also observed. During rabi season, except Punjab, the wheat dominating system was showing a decreasing trend in crop duration with time.     

珠三角地区长时间序列气溶胶时空变化特征分析

本文通过对2000年—2013年长时间序列的MODIS气溶胶产品进行统计,分析了珠三角地区气溶胶光学厚度(AOD)和细粒子光学厚度(FAOD)的空间分布特征以及年度和季节变化特点,有助于深入研究珠三角地区颗粒物污染水平变化及颗粒物的排放与输送等。研究结果显示珠三角地区中部为AOD高值区,东西两翼地区为AOD低值区。AOD和FAOD的最高值通常分别出现在春季和秋季,最低值则通常都出现在冬季。2006年之后,珠三角地区大气气溶胶总消光虽在部分年份仍有反弹上升的现象出现,但已有明显降低。然而,该地区细粒子消光在2000年—2012年期间则呈逐年增加的趋势,且其空间差异性也越加显著,细颗粒物污染仍需进一步控制。     

南京地区大气气溶胶综合观测与对比分析

利用CE-318太阳光度计、MPL激光雷达与卫星观测数据,分别采用光谱消光法、Fernald方法以及MODIS暗像元法(DDV)反演南京地区气溶胶光学厚度,并进行了对比分析。通过研究分析3月3日、6日卫星反演气溶胶光学厚度的空间分布图,发现长江流域附近以及市区(除老山、中山陵等山区地带之外)的AOD较高。3月3日太阳光度计、激光雷达与卫星数据在站点位置(南京信息工程大学,118.7°E,32.2°N)的AOD值分别为0.455、0.289、0.4;3月6日的AOD值分别为0.373、0.267、0.25。通过对比分析3月至9月之间的多天数据,可得3种数据计算所得AOD相差不大,说明卫星与激光雷达反演数据相对可靠。其中,3月3日与3月6日的太阳光度计数据显示,观测地区出现常见的两种AOD变化类型:一种是早晚高,中午低;一种是早低晚高。此外,激光雷达所得数据结果随着时间的变化幅度较大,且可以在有云的天气条件下探测气溶胶;本文利用激光雷达数据计算出的9 km以下AOD值多数在0.3左右,3月3日与3月6日两天之中,2 km以下较脏,出现了一些气溶胶层,6km以上相对比较干净,个别时段6 km以上高空存在云层。与地基观测相比,卫星虽然时间分辨率虽然低,但是对于大面积的趋势分析却有着绝对的优势。在今后的气溶胶观测发展中,结合三者的优势,有助于以较高精度,大面积反演大气气溶胶空间分布情况,获得较准确的气溶胶参数。     

Eddies and planetary waves in the Central Arabian Sea

Eddies and planetary waves are identified as one of the important factors that control the dynamics of the Arabian Sea. During 10–14 January 1990, Ignat, Paulyuchenkov (USSR ship) conducted an experiment in the central Arabian Sea and of late TOPEX/POSEIDON satellites collected data on sea surface height (SSH) anomalies of the Arabian Sea. These data sets give an opportunity to understand the characteristic of eddies and planetary waves in this region during winter. The geostrophic flow revealed three anticyclonic and two cyclonic eddies of diameters ranging from 75 to more than 150 km from surface to subsurface levels. Current speeds around different eddies were maximum at surface and varied from 9 cm/s to 25 cm/s (at the middle point between the center and periphery). The occurrence of eddies were further investigated with the TOPEX/POSEIDON altimetry for the years 1993–97. The analysis revealed multiple eddies of diameter 100 to 550 km occur every year with maximum number of eddies during 1997 and minimum during 1995. The calculated speed varied between 8–30 cm/s around various eddies. Longitude-Time plots showed annual Rossby waves generating at the eastern Arabian Sea and propagating westwards with a phase speed of ~ 10 cm/s along 16° N. Further, it was observed that these waves arrived in the study area by January. In addition, another positive anomaly of SSH was found generating at the western Arabian Sea simultaneously and extended up to the study region by April–June. Time series of SSH at selected locations along 16°N revealed many small-scale oscillations and their spatial variability. These oscillations were delineated using the FFT analysis. Other than the Rossby wave, the major components at the study region were 40–60 and 26–32 day oscillations. The implications of these long period waves associated with eddies are discussed.     

Understanding the Spatial Variability of Chlorophyll a and Total Suspended Matter Distribution Along the Southwest Bay of Bengal Using In-Situ and OCM-2 & MODIS-Aqua Measurements

Spatial and temporal distribution of chlorophyll a (chl a) and Total Suspended Matter (TSM) and inter comparison of Ocean Color Monitor-2 (OCM-2) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS-Aqua) derived chlorophyll a and TSM was made along the southwest Bay of Bengal (BoB). The in-situ chl a and TSM concentration measured during different seasons were ranged from 0.09 to 10.63 μgl^?1 and 11.04–43.75 mgl^?1 respectively. OCM-2 and MODIS derived chl a showed the maximum (6–8 μgl^?1) at nearshore waters and the minimum (0–1 μgl^?1) along the offshore waters. OCM-2 derived TSM imageries showed the maximum (50–60 mgl^?1) along the nearshore waters of Palk Strait and the moderate concentration (2–5 mgl^?1) was observed in the offshore waters. MODIS derived minimum TSM concentration (13.244 mgl^?1) was recorded along the offshore waters, while the maximum concentration of 15.78 mgl^?1 was found along the Kodiakarai region. The inter-comparison of OCM-2 and MODIS chl a data (R ² ?=?0.549, n?=?49, p?<?0.001, SEE?=?±0.117) indicate that MODIS data overestimates chl a concentration in the nearshore waters of the southern BoB compared to the OCM-2. The correlation between OCM-2 and MODIS-Aqua TSM data (R ² ?=?0.508, N?=?53, P?<?0.001 and SEE?=?±0.024) confirms that variation in the range of values measured by OCM-2 (2–60 mgl^?1) and the MODIS (13–16 mgl^?1) derived TSM values. Despite problems in range of measurements, persistent cloud cover etc., the launch of satellites like OCM-2 with relatively high spatial resolutions makes job easier and possible to monitor chl a distribution and sediment discharges on day to day basis in the southwest BoB.     

合肥地区平流层气溶胶地基激光雷达与SAGE卫星探测比较

为了解中国上空SAGE反演的平流层气溶胶数据质量,将合肥地区地基激光雷达观测10年(1996年—2005年)的气溶胶数据与SAGE资料进行比较。通过较为系统全面的比较分析,得到如下结果:(1)10—30 km内SAGE与Li DAR分析的气溶胶变化趋势较为一致,出现峰值和低值的位置也较为接近;(2)SAGE结果普遍比Li DAR测量的偏小,对应的平流层气溶胶AOD差异显著,定量表现为:激光雷达获取的平流层气溶胶AOD基本约为0.004,SAGE反演的平流层气溶胶AOD基本约为0.002,只有前者的一半;(3)两者分析的20—35 km气溶胶季节分布差异较小,再次表明平流层气溶胶比较稳定。     

Atmospheric aerosol pollution across China: a spatiotemporal analysis of satellite-based aerosol optical depth during 2000–2016

ABSTRACT

Increasing attention has been paid to the deterioration of air quality in China during the past decade. This study presents the spatiotemporal variations of aerosol concentration across China during 2000–2016 using aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the atmospheric product of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer. Percentile thresholds are applied to define AOD days with different loadings. Temporally, aerosol concentration has increased since 2000 and reached the highest level in 2011; then it has declined from 2011 to 2016. Seasonally, aerosol concentration is the highest in summer and the lowest in winter. Spatially, North China and Sichuan Basin are featured by high aerosol concentration with increasing trends in North China and decreasing trends in Sichuan Basin. North, Southeast and Southwest China have been through increasing days with low AOD loading; however, Northeast China has experienced increasing days with high AOD loading. It is likely that air quality influenced by aerosols has notably improved over North China in spring and summer, over Southwest and Southeast China in autumn, but has degraded over Northeast China in autumn.