Impacts of greenhouse gases and aerosol direct and indirect effects on clouds and radiation in atmospheric GCM simulations of the 1930–1989 period

Among anthropogenic perturbations of the Earths atmosphere, greenhouse gases and aerosols are considered to have a major impact on the energy budget through their impact on radiative fluxes. We use three ensembles of simulations with the LMDZ general circulation model to investigate the radiative impacts of five species of greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, CFC-11 and CFC-12) and sulfate aerosols for the period 1930–1989. Since our focus is on the atmospheric changes in clouds and radiation from greenhouse gases and aerosols, we prescribed sea-surface temperatures in these simulations. Besides the direct impact on radiation through the greenhouse effect and scattering of sunlight by aerosols, strong radiative impacts of both perturbations through changes in cloudiness are analysed. The increase in greenhouse gas concentration leads to a reduction of clouds at all atmospheric levels, thus decreasing the total greenhouse effect in the longwave spectrum and increasing absorption of solar radiation by reduction of cloud albedo. Increasing anthropogenic aerosol burden results in a decrease in high-level cloud cover through a cooling of the atmosphere, and an increase in the low-level cloud cover through the second aerosol indirect effect. The trend in low-level cloud lifetime due to aerosols is quantified to 0.5 min day^–1 decade^–1 for the simulation period. The different changes in high (decrease) and low-level (increase) cloudiness due to the response of cloud processes to aerosols impact shortwave radiation in a contrariwise manner, and the net effect is slightly positive. The total aerosol effect including the aerosol direct and first indirect effects remains strongly negative.     

One year measurements of aerosol optical properties over an urban coastal site: Effect on local direct radiative forcing

We present results of direct aerosol radiative forcing over a French Mediterranean coastal zone based on one year of continuous observations of aerosol optical properties during 2005–2006. Monthly-mean aerosol optical depth at 440 nm ranged between 0.1 and 0.34, with high Angstrom coefficient (α > 1.2). The single scattering albedo (at 525 nm) estimated at the surface ranged between 0.7 and 0.8, indicating significant absorption. The presence of aerosols over the Mediterranean zone during summer decreases the shortwave radiation reaching the surface by as much as 26 ± 3.9 W m^− 2, and increases the top of the atmosphere reflected radiation by as much as 5.2 ± 1.0 W m^− 2. The shortwave atmospheric absorption translates to an atmospheric heating of 2.5 to 4.6 K day^− 1. Concerted efforts are needed for investigating the possible impact of the increase in heating rate on the maintenance of heat-waves frequently occurring over this coastal region during summer time.     

Aerosol direct forcing of the summer Indian monsoon as simulated by the NCAR CAM3

In this study, the effects of aerosols on the simulation of the Indian monsoon by the NCAR Community Atmosphere Model CAM3 are measured and investigated. Monthly mean 3D mass concentrations of soil dust, black and organic carbons, sulfate, and sea salt, as output from the GOCART model, are interpolated to mid-month values and to the horizontal and vertical grids of CAM3. With these mid-month aerosol concentrations, CAM3 is run for a period of approximately 16 months, allowing for one complete episode of the Indian monsoon. Responses to the aerosols are measured by comparing the mean of an ensemble of aerosol-induced monsoon simulations to the mean of an ensemble of CAM3 simulations in which aerosols are omitted, following the method of Lau et al. (2006) in their experiment with the NASA finite volume general circulation model. Additionally, an ensemble of simulations of CAM3 using climatological mid-month aerosol concentrations from the MATCH model is composed for comparison. Results of this experiment indicate that the inclusion of aerosols results in drops in surface temperature and increases in precipitation over central India during the pre-monsoon months of March, April, and May. The presence of aerosols induces tropospheric shortwave heating over central India, which destabilizes the atmosphere for enhanced convection and precipitation. Reduced shortwave heating and enhanced evaporation at the surface during April and May results in reduced terrestrial emission to cool the lower troposphere, relative to simulations with no aerosols. This effect weakens the near-surface cyclonic circulation and, consequently, has a negative feedback on precipitation during the active monsoon months of June and July.     

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.     

A three-dimensional numerical model of cloud formation and aerosol transport in an orographically inhomogeneous atmospheric boundary layer

A 3-D mesoscale numerical model of cloud formation, fog, and aerosol transport in an orographically inhomogeneous atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) has been considered. Streamlining of the flow around isolated obstacles in steady-state stratified flow has been studied. An account of radiation transfer in the ABL has made it possible to analyze the combined effect of orography and radiation on the formation of fog and cloud, to analyze the interaction between radiation and cloudiness, as well as their effect on the change of mesoscale circulation in the atmosphere and on variations in the optical characteristics of the atmosphere. The transport of aerosols from various sources has been modelled. The impact of orography, cloudiness and atmospheric stratification, governed by the radiative regime of the ABL, on the propagation of admixtures and surface deposition has been studied. The atmospheric aerosol turbidity in zones of intensive industrial pollution has been assessed.     

Indirect vs. Direct Effects of Anthropogenic Sulfate on the Climate of East Asia as Simulated with a Regional Coupled Climate-Chemistry/Aerosol Model

We intercompare a series of multi-year simulations with a coupled regionalchemistry-climate model for east Asia to assess the relative importance ofdirect and indirect (Type I) effects of anthropogenic sulfate on the climateof the region. Both direct and indirect aerosol effects induce a negativeradiative forcing that results in a cooling of the surface and in a decrease of precipitation. Under present day sulfur emissions,the direct aerosol effects prevail during the cold season, while the indirecteffects dominate in the warm season (when cloudiness is maximum over the region). When both the direct and indirect effects are included, the surface cooling varies in the range of –0.1 to over –1 K throughout the region and extended areas ofstatistically significant cooling are found in all seasons except winter.The indirect effects largely dominate in inhibiting precipitation, especiallyduring the summer. When doubling the sulfur emissions, the direct effects aresubstantially strengthened, while the indirect effects are only marginally affected. This indicates that the indirect effects over the region might be asymptotically approaching their maximum efficiency. Overall, the indirect effects appear necessary to explain theobserved temperature record over some regions of China, at least in the warm season.A number of uncertainties need to be addressed, such as due to Type IIindirect effects, modeling of the relationship between aerosol concentration and cloud optical properties, and contribution of aerosols other than anthropogenic sulfate.     

气溶胶直接效应对一次降水影响的机理分析

利用完全在线耦合气溶胶-辐射-云-降水相互作用的WRF-Chem模式研究了气溶胶直接效应对2012年7月21日一次暴雨的影响。结果表明,WRF-Chem模式较好模拟了此次降水过程中气象场和化学场的变化;模式基本模拟出此次降水的发展过程和总降水量的空间分布特征,气溶胶直接效应不会改变整体降水强度和区域总降水量,但会改变区域内的降水分布形态。在污染地区吸收性气溶胶对太阳短波辐射的吸收使大气中层加热,增强了相应大气层之间的不稳定性,使垂直运动更加强盛,由此霰和雨水对云水的收集增强,可降水粒子增加,降水增强;相反,在污染地区的下风向动力过程则相对减弱,降水减少。气溶胶直接效应通过影响动力过程和微物理过程改变降水的分布      

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.     

Simulation of the anthropogenic aerosols over South Asia and their effects on Indian summer monsoon

A regional climate model coupled with a chemistry-aerosol model is employed to simulate the anthropogenic aerosols including sulfate, black carbon and organic carbon and their direct effect on climate over South Asia. The model is driven by the NCAR/NCEP re-analysis data. Multi-year simulations with half, normal and double emission fluxes are conducted. Results show that the model performs well in reproducing present climate over the region. Simulations of the aerosol optical depth and surface concentration of aerosols are also reasonable although to a less extent. The negative radiative forcing is found at the top of atmosphere and largely depended on emission concentration. Surface air temperature decreases by 0.1?C0.5°C both in pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. The range and intensity of cooling areas enlarge while aerosol emission increases. Changes in precipitation are between ?25 and 25%. Different diversifications of rainfall are showed with three emission scenarios. The changes of precipitation are consistent with varieties of monsoon onset dates in pre-monsoon season. In the regions of increasing precipitation, monsoon onset is advanced and vice versa. In northeast India and Myanmar, aerosols lead the India summer monsoon onset advancing 1?C2 pentads, and delaying by 1?C2 pentads in central and southeast India. These changes are mainly caused by the anomaly of local Hadley circulations and enhancive precipitation. Tibetan Plateau played a crucial role in the circulation changes.     

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.     

Aerosols and their influence on radiation partitioning and savanna productivity in northern Australia

Aerosols have been shown to affect the quantity and quality of solar radiation on the Earth’s surface. Savanna regions are subject to frequent burning and release of aerosols that may impact on radiation components and possibly vegetation productivity in this region. Therefore, in this study, we have analyzed the optical properties of aerosols (aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Angstrom coefficient) from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement site in Darwin for the periods from April 2002 to June 2005 as measured by a multifilter rotating shadowband radiometer. The influence of aerosols and their effect on surface shortwave incoming solar radiation and savanna productivity were examined for the dry season using sky radiation collection of radiometers and eddy covariance measurements from the Howard Springs flux site. Results indicated that aerosol concentrations in the region were relatively low compared to other savanna regions with the maximum monthly average AOD over the period being the greatest in October (0.29?±?0.003 standard error at 500 nm). The highest monthly average Angstrom exponent was also found in October (1.38?±?0.008). The relatively low aerosol concentration in this region can be attributed to the mixture of smoke aerosols with humidity haze and local circulations. Over a range of AODs from 0.1 to 0.4, we found a modest increase in the fraction of diffuse radiation to total radiation from 11% to 21%. This small increase in diffuse fraction did not affect the carbon flux significantly. However, because the current range of AOD in the region is relatively low, the region could be sensitive to increases in aerosols and diffuse fraction in the future.     

Estimates of effective aerosol optical depths from spectral solar radiation measurements

Summary This study reports a 37-year long record of direct beam spectral irradiance measurements made in Athens, Greece. An analysis of aerosol effects on the spectral distribution of solar radiation through effective optical depths, are presented. Thus, spectrally resolved aerosol optical depths were calculated and analyzed for the period 1954–1990. Summertime aerosol optical depths were found to be larger than winter values, while their seasonal variations were related to varying weather conditions throughout the year. The interrelationships between effective optical depths were found to be linear and were related strongly to microphysics of aerosol loading in the atmosphere. For the period 1962–1983 as wavelength exponent ₀ values ranged between 0.76–1.14 the spectrally resolved optical depths were found to increase markedly with respect to remaining periods 1954–1961 and 1984–1990 in which ₀ values ranged between 1.16–1.39. A minimum in aerosol optical depths, believed to be near background levels, was reached during period 1954–1957, while there was some indication that both optical depths continued to decrease reaching background levels at the end of the study period. From the long-term variation of aerosol effective optical depths some interesting information on the time evolution of air quality in Athens was gained. In addition, their frequency distribution, temporal daily variations and some remarks on photosynthetically active radiation for plant development, are presented and discussed.With 7 Figures     

Aerosol, clouds and rainfall: inter-annual and regional variations over India

Inter-annual and regional variations in aerosol and cloud characteristics, water vapor and rainfall over six homogeneous rainfall zones in India during the core monsoon month of July from 2000 to 2010, and their correlations are analyzed. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) and aerosol absorbing index (AAI) in July 2002, a drought year are higher over India when compared to normal monsoon years. The drier conditions that existed due to deficient rainfall in July 2002 could be responsible for raising more dust and smoke resulting in higher AODs over India. In addition, over India precipitation is not uniform and large-scale interruptions occur during the monsoon season. During these interruptions aerosols can build up over a region and contribute to an increase in AODs. This finding is supported by the occurrence of higher anomalies in AOD, AAI and rainfall over India in July 2002. Aerosol characteristics and rainfall exhibit large regional variations. Cloud effective radius (CER), cloud optical thickness and columnar water vapor over India are the lowest in July 2002. CER decreases as AOD and AAI increase, providing an observational evidence for the indirect effect of aerosols. Eighty percent of CER in northwest India, and 30% of CER over All India in July 2002 are <14 μm, the precipitation threshold critical cloud effective radius. Northeast India shows contrasting features of correlation among aerosols, clouds and rainfall when compared to other regions. These results will be important while examining the inter-annual variation in aerosols, cloud characteristics, rainfall and their trends.     

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.     

青藏高原云对地气系统短波吸收辐射强迫的气候研究

利用地球辐射平衡试验（ＥＲＢＥ）和国际卫星云气候计划（ＥＳＣＣＰ）提供的总云量、得星反射率资料,计算并分析了青藏高原地气系统年、月平均云对太阳短波吸收辐射的强迫,揭示了其与总云量的关系。结果表明：高原的短事射云强迫与总云量有较好的非线性相关,呈幂指数形式,且季节变化明显;短波辐射云强迫的地理分布与高原云的分产好,高原主体和北部是短波辐射云强迫的低值区,高原东南部和西部边缘迎风部位为强迫的高值区。     

秸秆燃烧对北京秋季气溶胶浓度和短波辐射影响的模拟研究

利用地面细颗粒物（PM2.5）浓度和气象常规观测资料、地基 AERONET观测资料、GFED生物质燃烧排放清单和大气化学—天气耦合模式WRF-Chem,模拟研究了华北地区2014年10月气象要素和大气污染物的时空演变,重点关注北京10月7～11日的一次重霾事件及其天气形势、边界层气象特征、输送路径、PM2.5及其化学成分浓度变化等特征,以及秸秆燃烧对华北和北京地区细颗粒物浓度和地面短波辐射的影响。与观测资料的对比结果显示,模式可以很好地模拟北京地区地面气象要素和PM2.5质量浓度,考虑秸秆燃烧排放源可以明显改进北京PM2.5浓度模拟的准确性,但在重度污染情况下,模式总体上低估气溶胶光学厚度和高估地面短波辐射。10月7～11日北京地区重霾事件主要是不利气象条件下人为污染物累积和区域输送造成,也受到华北地区南部秸秆燃烧的影响。河南北部、河北南部和山东西部大面积秸秆燃烧释放的气态污染物和颗粒物在南风的作用下输送至北京,秸秆燃烧对北京地区地面PM2.5、有机碳（OC）、硝酸盐、铵盐、硫酸盐和黑碳（BC）的平均贡献率分别为24.6%、36.8%、23.2%、22.6%、7.1%和19.8%,秸秆燃烧产生的气溶胶可以导致北京地面平均短波辐射最大减小超过20 W m－2,约占总气溶胶导致地表短波辐射变化的24%。     

Aerosol Microphysical and Radiative Effects on Continental Cloud Ensembles

Aerosol–cloud–radiation interactions represent one of the largest uncertainties in the current climate assessment. Much of the complexity arises from the non-monotonic responses of clouds, precipitation and radiative fluxes to aerosol perturbations under various meteorological conditions. In this study, an aerosol-aware WRF model is used to investigate the microphysical and radiative effects of aerosols in three weather systems during the March 2000 Cloud Intensive Observational Period campaign at the US Southern Great Plains. Three simulated cloud ensembles include a low-pressure deep convective cloud system, a collection of less-precipitating stratus and shallow cumulus, and a cold frontal passage. The WRF simulations are evaluated by several ground-based measurements. The microphysical properties of cloud hydrometeors, such as their mass and number concentrations, generally show monotonic trends as a function of cloud condensation nuclei concentrations.Aerosol radiative effects do not influence the trends of cloud microphysics, except for the stratus and shallow cumulus cases where aerosol semi-direct effects are identified. The precipitation changes by aerosols vary with the cloud types and their evolving stages, with a prominent aerosol invigoration effect and associated enhanced precipitation from the convective sources. The simulated aerosol direct effect suppresses precipitation in all three cases but does not overturn the aerosol indirect effect. Cloud fraction exhibits much smaller sensitivity(typically less than 2%) to aerosol perturbations, and the responses vary with aerosol concentrations and cloud regimes. The surface shortwave radiation shows a monotonic decrease by increasing aerosols, while the magnitude of the decrease depends on the cloud type.     

青藏高原地区气溶胶及其对降水影响的研究进展

青藏高原（简称高原）气溶胶主要来自周边地区的输送,近年来,随着人为污染加剧和气候条件变化,高原及周边地区气溶胶的特性和气候效应越来越受关注。而高原降水一直是高原气象与气候学的重点,气溶胶对高原降水的影响正逐渐成为研究热点。本文总结了高原气溶胶及其对降水影响的相关研究成果,从气溶胶特性观测（站点和卫星观测）研究、“气溶胶-辐射相互作用”、“气溶胶-云相互作用” 影响降水研究以及气溶胶影响降水中化学组分研究等方面进行了综述,并对未来研究方向进行了展望。     

中国地－气系统净辐射的气候特征

根据ＥＲＢＥ和ＩＳＣＣＰ资料讨论了总云量等因子对地－气系统净辐射的影响，分析了地－气系统净辐射与其各分量及地表净辐射的相关联系。发现行星反射率和地气短波吸收辐射对地－气净辐射的影响最大，而云和纬度的作用主要通过该两因子变化表现出来，ＯＬＲ的作用则相对较弱。地－气净辐射与地表净辐射的相关性也较明显。文中还就地－气净辐射在全国的地理分布作了分析。各地区地－气净辐射的年变曲线均为简单的夏大冬小型，云等因素的影响主要造成最大值出现月份的推移。     

The radiative influence of aerosol effects on liquid-phase cumulus and stratiform clouds based on sensitivity studies with two climate models

Aerosol effects on warm (liquid-phase) cumulus cloud systems may have a strong radiative influence via suppression of precipitation in convective systems. A consequence of this suppression of precipitation is increased liquid water available for large-scale stratiform clouds, through detrainment, that in turn affect their precipitation efficiency. The nature of this influence on radiation, however, is dependent on both the treatment of convective condensate and the aerosol distribution. Here, we examine these issues with two climate models—CSIRO and GISS, which treat detrained condensate differently. Aerosol–cloud interactions in warm stratiform and cumulus clouds (via cloud droplet formation and autoconversion) are treated similarly in both models. The influence of aerosol–cumulus cloud interactions on precipitation and radiation are examined via simulations with present-day and pre-industrial aerosol emissions. Sensitivity tests are also conducted to examine changes to climate due to changes in cumulus cloud droplet number (N _c); the main connection between aerosols and cumulus cloud microphysics. Results indicate that the CSIRO GCM is quite sensitive to changes in aerosol concentrations such that an increase in aerosols increases N _c, cloud cover, total liquid water path (LWP) and reduces total precipitation and net cloud radiative forcings. On the other hand, the radiative fluxes in the GISS GCM appear to have minimal changes despite an increase in aerosols and N _c. These differences between the two models—reduced total LWP in the GISS GCM for increased aerosols, opposite to that seen in CSIRO—appear to be more sensitive to the detrainment of convective condensate, rather than to changes in N _c. If aerosols suppress convective precipitation as noted in some observationally based studies (but not currently treated in most climate models), the consequence of this change in LWP suggests that: (1) the aerosol indirect effect (calculated as changes to net cloud radiative forcing from anthropogenic aerosols) may be higher than previously calculated or (2) lower than previously calculated. Observational constrains on these results are difficult to obtain and hence, until realistic cumulus-scale updrafts are implemented in models, the logic of detraining non-precipitating condensate at appropriate levels based on updrafts and its effects on radiation, will remain an uncertainty.