NOAA WP-3D instrumentation and flight operations on AGASP-II

The second Arctic Gas and Aerosol Sampling Program (AGASP-II) was conducted across the non-Soviet Arctic in March and April 1986, to study the aerosol, gaseous, chemical, and optical properties of Arctic haze. One component of the program was supported with an instrumented NOAA WP-3D atmospheric research aircraft. Measurements of wind, temperature, ozone, water vapor, condensation nucleus concentration, and aerosol scattering extinction coefficient were used to determine the locations and properties of haze layers. The first three NOAA WP-3D research flights were conducted north of Barrow, Alaska, and over the Beaufort Sea northeast of Barter Island, Alaska. The next three sampled conditions in the high Arctic near Alert, Northwest Territories, Canada. All basic meteorological, gas, and aerosol systems are described. The WP-3D flight tracks and operations are presented.     

Aerosol black carbon measurements in the Arctic haze during AGASP-II

During the second Arctic Gas and Aerosol Sampling Program conducted in April 1986, we performed measurements of the optically absorbing carbonaceous component of the ambient aerosol from the NOAA WP-3D aircraft operating between sea level and 10 km altitude. We collected the aerosol of filters that were exposed for several hours; we also operated the aethalometer to measure the concentration of aerosol black carbon in real time. The filter analyses represent averages over the altitude range and time span during which the filter was collecting. The real-time results were sorted by altitude to calculate vertical profiles of black carbon concentration. Values typically ranged from 300 to 500 ng m^–3 at lower altitudes, decreasing gradually to 25 to 100 ng m^–3 at 8–10 km. Strong stratification at lower altitudes was frequently observed. The magnitude of these concentrations suggests that the sources are distant regions of considerable fuel consumption. The presence of this material in the tropospheric column and its probable deposition to the high-albedo surface may result in perturbations of the solar radiation balance. The concentrations measured at the highest altitudes may mean that particulate carbon and accompanying emissions for which it is a tracer are mixing into the stratosphere.     

Meteorology and haze structure during AGASP-II,Part 2: Canadian Arctic flights, 13–16 April 1986

In April 1986, a well-instrumented NOAA WP-3D research aircraft conducted three flights in the Canadian Arctic tied to the Canadian Atmospheric Environment Service baseline station in Alert, Northwest Territories. Two of the flights were coordinated with the National Aeronautical Establishment of Canada Twin Otter and the University of Washington C-131 research aircraft. The haze observed in the Canadian Arctic was well-aged and mixed throughout the troposphere in concentrations well below those observed during the previous weeks in the Alaskan Arctic. Over the ice, beneath the surface temperature inversion, ozone was generally depleted to near zero. Over the coast at Alert, there is evidence that topography and downslope winds reduce the strength of the inversion, thus allowing lower tropospheric gases and aerosols to mix down to the surface. At the top of the troposphere, an aerosol-depleted region was observed. In the lower stratosphere, aerosol concentrations were elevated above those observed in the troposphere.     

Meteorology and haze structure during AGASP-II,Part 1: Alaskan Arctic flights, 2–10 April 1986

The second Arctic Gas and Aerosol Sampling Program (AGASP-II) was conducted across the Alaskan and Canadian Arctic in April 1986, to study the in situ aerosol, and the chemical and optical properties of Arctic haze. The NOAA WP-3D aircraft, with special instrumentation added, made six flights during AGASP-II. Measurements of wind, pressure, temperature, ozone, water vapor, condensation nuclei (CN) concentration, and aerosol scattering extinction (b_sp) were used to determine the location of significant haze layers. The measurements made on the first three flights, over the Arctic Ocean north of Barrow and over the Beaufort Sea north of Barter Island, Alaska are discussed in detail in this report of the first phase of AGASP II. In the Alaskan Arctic the WP-3D detected a large and persistent region of haze between 960 and 750 mb, in a thermally stable layer, on 2, 8, and 9 April 1986. At its most dense, the haze contained CN concentrations >10,000 cm^–3 and b_sp of 80×10^–6 m^–1 suggesting active SO₂ to H₂SO₄ gas-to-particle conversion. Calculations based upon observed SO₂ concentrations and ambient relative humidities suggest that 10⁴–10⁵ small H₂SO₄ droplets could have been produced in the haze layers. High concentrations of sub-micron H₂SO₄ droplets were collected in haze. Ozone concentrations were 5–10 ppb higher in the haze layers than in the surrounding troposphere. Outside the regions of haze, CN concentrations ranged from 100 to 400 cm^–3 and b_sp values were about (20–40)×10^–6 m^–1. Air mass trajectories were computed to depict the air flow upwind of regions in which haze was observed. In two cases the back trajectories and ground measurements suggested the source to be in central Europe.     

Airborne and lidar measurements of aerosol and cloud particles in the troposphere over Alert Canada in April 1986

As a component of the Canadian Arctic Haze Study, held coincident with the second Arctic Gas and Aerosol Sampling Program (AGASP II), vertical profiles of aerosol size distribution (0.17 m), light scattering parameters and cloud particle concentrations were obtained with an instrumented aircraft and ground-based lidar system during April 1986 at Alert. Northwest Territories. Average aerosol number concentrations range from about 200 cm^–3 over the Arctic ice cap to about 100 cm^–3 at 6 km. The aerosol size spectrum is virtually free of giant or coarse aerosol particles, and does not vary significantly with altitude. Most of the aerosol volume is concentrated in the 0.17–0.50 m size range, and the aerosol number concentration is found to be a good surrogate for the SO₄ ⁼ concentration of the Arctic haze aerosol. Comparison of the aircraft and lidar data show that, when iced crystal scattering is excluded, the aerosol light scattering coefficient and the lidar backscattering coefficient are proportional to the Arctic haze aerosol concentration. Ratios of scattering to backscattering, scattering to aerosol number concentration, and backscattering to aerosol number concentration are 15.3 steradians, 1.1×10^–13 m², and 4.8×10^–15 m² sr^–1, respectively. Aerosol scattering coefficients calculated from the measured size distributions using Mie scattering agree well with measured values. The calculations indicate the aerosol absorption optical depth over 6 km to range between 0.011 and 0.018. The presence of small numbers of ice crystals (10–20 crystals 1^–1 measured) increased light scattering by over a factor of ten.     

In-situ measurements of the aerosol size distributions,physicochemistry and light absorption properties of Arctic haze

Thermal and optical techniques were used at Barrow, Alaska during AGASP II (3/20/86–4/7/86) to measure in-situ variability of major aerosol components present in Arctic Haze. The experiment provided continuous data on the concentration, size distribution and relative proportions of sulfate species and refractory aerosol for particle diameters of 0.15 to 5 m. Filter samples were also taken for determination of aerosol optical absorption due to soot (EC-elemental carbon). Although pronounced haze events were absence during this period the haze aerosol present varied in concentration between 2 and 6 g/m³ but showed little change in relative constituents. Apart from local influences, the optical data indicated a persistent fine-mode sulfate aerosol with a NH₄ ⁺/SO₄ ^– molar ratio of about 0.4 and a refractory component of somewhat less than 10% by mass. A preliminary comparison of soot estimates determined from the light absorption data with the size distributions of refractory aerosol observed independently by the optical particle counter showed good agreement during the sample period. In the absence of local pollution, values of single scatter albedo derived from light scattering and light absorption showed similar variation about the average value of 0.86 found by us during flights north of Barrow three years earlier during AGASP I.     

Elemental composition of particulate material sampled from the Arctic haze aerosol

Thirty-six aerosol filter samples collected in tropospheric Arctic haze layers, in the stratosphere, and in the marine boundary layer during the 1983 Arctic Gas and Aerosol Sampling Program were analyzed for trace elements using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Average crustal dust concentrations were 540 ng/m³ and 330 ng/m³ for samples collected in Arctic haze over the North American and Norwegian Arctic, respectively. An average marine salt concentration of 120 ng/m³ was obtained for haze samples collected above the marine boundary layer on both sides of the Arctic.Meteorological and wind trajectory information were used to identify specific haze transport pathways, which brought relatively unmixed aerosol from the central Soviet Union into the AGASP sampling areas. Results from individual filters collected within these transport zones are discussed, with emphasis on certain trace metal ratos which have been proposed by other researchers as discriminators of aerosols from different source regions. Our aircraft-collected data are compared with previously-collected ground-based measurements, and show reasonably good agreement for most tracer elements and ratios. Specifically, we have determined the As/Sb ratio tracer, named by other researchers as the most effective elemental discriminator of aerosol from the central Soviet Union, to be approximately 5–6. This relatively high tracer value is consistent with previous ground-based findings. A significantly lower V/Sb ratio was observed throughout this study, possibly indicating a change in the source signature.     

单星多角度法同时反演气溶胶光学厚度和地表反射率

尝试以单星多角度卫星观测数据同时反演晴空陆地的气溶胶光学厚度和地表反射率,并选取2009年5月的MODIS(Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer)1B资料进行了反演试验.结果表明:单星多角度法反演得到的气溶胶光学厚度结果与MODIS气溶胶产品(MOD04)平均值的相关系数为0.7914;反演的地表反射率结果与MODIS地表反射率产品(MOD09)也具有较好的一致性.对直接利用单星多角度观测数据反演获得一段时间内平均的气溶胶光学厚度进行了有益的尝试.     

太湖地区气溶胶光学厚度的分布及其在大气校正中的应用

采用太湖地区水面光谱数据以及MODIS遥感影像数据,利用辐射传输模式6S,选择自定义气溶胶类型,反演得到太湖地区气溶胶光学厚度(aerosol optical depth,AOD)分布,将其与太阳光度计CE318实测气溶胶光学厚度分别应用于太湖区域的大气校正中,得到不同的水面反射率,并参考实测水面反射率进行对比分析。结果表明:反演的太湖地区气溶胶光学厚度分布较为合理,造成此分布的原因可能是太湖北岸工业较发达,污染较严重。太湖颗粒物的吸收特性和卫星接收到的表观反射率导致反演数据的差异,是反演气溶胶光学厚度分布不均匀的主要原因。使用MODIS数据反演得到的太湖地区AOD进行大气校正,更加精确。该研究方法和结果可为气溶胶光学厚度反演、精确卫星数据大气校正提供参考。     

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。     

Analytical electron microscope studies of size-segregated particles collected during AGASP-II,flights 201–203

Cascade impactor samples were collected over the Alaskan Arctic during the first three research flights of AGASP-II. These samples were analyzed using analytical electron microscopy to determine the morphology, mineralogy and elemental composition of individual particles. For analytical considerations, a typical impactor sample was run for approximately 20 min, thus giving excellent time resolution of discrete events.Samples collected during flights 201 and 202 consisted of stratospheric aerosol and lower-altitude haze samples. Stratospheric samples were characterized by moderate loadings of H₂SO₄ droplets with relatively few particles of other types. Samples collected in tropospheric haze layers generally exhibited light-to-moderate particle loadings. H₂SO₄ was again the most prevalent species, with crustal and anthropogenic particles also observed. One sample taken over south-central Alaska near the end of flight 203 showed high concentrations of solid crustal particles, with relatively little associated H₂SO₄. Giant particles larger than 5 m were occasionally observed in this aerosol. The composition of this material closely matches that of bulk ash from the Mt. Augustine volcano, which erupted 9–13 days before collection of this sample. This brings forth the possibility that pockets of ash-rich aerosol existed over parts of south and central Alska during the AGASP-II field mission. There is no evidence that these volcanic aerosols were present in the AGASP study area north of the Brooks Range.     

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.     

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

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

Effect of model errors in ambient air humidity on the aerosol optical depth obtained via aerosol hygroscopicity in eastern China in the Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate Model Intercomparison Project datasets

当前全球气候模式普遍低估中国东部气溶胶光学厚度(AOD)。本文表明,模式低估中国东部地表大气相对湿度是AOD低估的原因之一。研究基于国际大气化学气候模式比较计划的干气溶胶质量浓度结果,用再分析湿度数据替换模拟湿度以计算AOD变化。结果表明,替换后我国大气相对湿度增加,多模式平均的华南年均AOD因此增长45%,华北6-8月AOD增长33%。不同模式采用相似的硫酸盐吸湿增长曲线。相对湿度低估对AOD模拟影响程度主要受吸湿颗粒质量浓度和相对湿度概率分布影响,该结论有助于解释我国AOD模拟误差。     

Using hourly measurements to explore the role of secondary inorganic aerosol in PM2.5 during haze and fog in Hangzhou,China

This paper explores the role of the secondary inorganic aerosol （SIA） species ammonium,NH4＋,nitrate,NO3-,and sulfate,SO24-,during haze and fog events using hourly mass concentrations of PM2.5 measured at a suburban site in Hangzhou,China.A total of 546 samples were collected between 1 April and 8 May 2012.The samples were analyzed and classified as clear,haze or fog depending on visibility and relative humidity （RH）.The contribution of SIA species to PM2.5 mass increased to ～50％ during haze and fog.The mass contribution of nitrate to PM2.5 increased from 11％ during clear to 20％ during haze episodes.Nitrate mass exceeded sulfate mass during haze,while near equal concentrations were observed during fog episodes.The role of RH on the correlation between concentrations of SIA and visibility was examined,with optimal correlation at 60％-70％ RH.The total acidity during clear,haze and fog periods was 42.38,48.38 and 45.51 nmol m-3,respectively,indicating that sulfate,nitrate and chloride were not neutralized by ammonium during any period.The nitrate to sulfate molar ratio,as a function of the ammonium to sulfate molar ratio,indicated that nitrate formation during fog started at a higher ammonium to sulfate molar ratio compared to clear and haze periods.During haze and fog,the nitrate oxidation ratio increased by a factor of 1.6-1.7,while the sulfur oxidation ratio increased by a factor of 1.2-1.5,indicating that both gaseous NO2 and SO2 were involved in the reduced visibility.     

利用静止卫星MTSAT反演大气气溶胶光学厚度

卫星遥感是获取气溶胶光学特性的重要手段,利用静止卫星可见光通道资料反演气溶胶光学厚度(AOD)的算法使用日本静止气象卫星MTSAT可见光通道资料反演了2008年5月中国地区陆地上的气溶胶光学厚度,将得到的结果分别与AERONET站点的地面观测值进行比较,得到了较好的线性相关关系,再将其与相应的MODIS气溶胶光学厚度产品进行比较,也得到了较为一致的分布,表明MTSAT反演的气溶胶光学厚度产品可以反映大气气溶胶光学厚度的日变化信息。最后对这种反演算法的误差来源进行了分析。     

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。     

小洋山岛大气气溶胶光学厚度的特征分析

小洋山岛位于上海东南面距海岸线约30km处,四面环海,研究其上空的大气气溶胶光学特性对了解我国东部沿海地区及其近海海域的环境和气候影响等都具有重要的意义。对于近岸海岛的气溶胶光学厚度(AOD)观测,至今国内尚未见这方面的实测资料与分析。本次实验利用2006～2007年连续观测得到的AOD值,分析了AOD的季节变化及其与地面风向、湿度和能见度等气象要素的关系,并给出了气溶胶消光谱。分析发现:小洋山地区AOD具有春季最大,冬季次之,秋季较小的特点,而且在低能见度情况下,气溶胶以大粒子为主;盛行西风时,AOD值增大且大粒子比重增加;AOD与湿度有较好的正相关关系。     

A study of aerosol particle sizes in the atmosphere of Athens, Greece, retrieved from solar spectral measurements

This work aims at determining the aerosol particle radii in the atmosphere of Athens. Such a work is carried out in Athens for the first time. For this purpose, solar spectral direct-beam irradiance measurements were used in the spectral range 310–575 nm. To estimate the particle radius from aerosol optical depth retrieval, a minimization technique was employed based on the golden-section search of the difference between experimental and theoretical values of the aerosol optical depth. The necessary Mie computations were performed based on the algorithm LVEC.In this study, the mean particle radius of a given distribution was calculated every 30 min during cloudless days in the period November 1996 to September 1997. The largest particles were observed in the summer and the smallest during winter. The result was verified by the increased values of the aerosol optical depth and the turbidity factors calculated in the summer. The differences in the diurnal variation from season to season are attributed to the prevailing wind regime, pollutant emission and sink rates in the atmosphere of Athens.     

Comparison of column-integrated aerosol optical and physical properties in an urban and suburban site on the North China Plain

The column-integrated optical properties of aerosol in Beijing and Xianghe, two AErosol RObotic NETwork(AERONET)sites situated on the North China Plain(NCP), are investigated based on Cimel sunphotometer measurements from October2004 to June 2012. The outstanding feature found is that the seasonal medians of aerosol optical depth(AOD) at the two stations are in good agreement. The correlation coefficients and the absolute differences between AOD at the two stations are larger than 0.84 and less than 0.05, respectively. Good agreement in AOD at these two sites(one urban and the other suburban; 70 km apart) indicates that aerosol pollution in the Greater Beijing area is regional in nature. However, we find significant differences in the absorption ?Angstr ¨om Exponent(AAE), the real and imaginary part of the refractive index, and thereby the single scattering albedo(SSA), and the difference is seasonally dependent. The feature is found to be more prominent in fall when the fine-mode fraction(FMF) and fine-mode effective radius are significantly different at the two stations,besides the parameters mentioned above. The SSA in Beijing at four wavelengths shows lower values as compared to those in Xianghe, although the difference is not significant in some cases. Significant differences in AAE and fine-mode effective radius indicate that there are differences in aerosol physical and chemical properties in urban and suburban regions on the NCP.