Abstract
Aerosols create great uncertainties in studying climate change under global warming and atmospheric dynamics. To understand the impacts of aerosols on cloud properties in Madurai, we have analyzed an extensive collection of aerosol and cloud properties, obtained from the Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, over the study site during 2012-2013. Monthly, seasonal and annual variations of aerosols and clouds studied along their interactions and impacts on climate. Considering annual averages for all these parameters, most often the year 2012 was dominated with a higher presence of AOD, COD, CER, CTT, CTP whereas rainfall and CF were found to be dominated in 2013. The presence of higher CF in 2013 may be a cause for the higher rainfall and the lower level of CF in 2012 may be a cause for less rainfall. High aerosol loading in this area is due to biomass burning and urban air pollution which may significantly suppress precipitation. Increased aerosols and the local aerosol emissions may reduce the precipitation efficiency, which is responsible for the precipitation reduction and vice-versa.
Highlights
Indian summer monsoon is the biggest source of freshwater resource and more than 70 % of the annual precipitation over India occurs during the monsoon season
Considering annual averages for all these parameters, most often the year 2012 was dominated with a higher presence of aerosol optical depths (AOD), Cloud Optical Depth (COD), Cloud Effective Radius (CER), Cloud Top Temperature (CTT), Cloud Top Pressure (CTP) whereas rainfall and Cloud Fraction (CF) were found to be dominated in 2013
The daily mean of aerosol optical depths (AOD) derived from the Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) with level 3 and the collection version of 5.1 with grid size of 1o x 1o at 550 nm aerosol data product from the Terra platform is used in the present work
Summary
Indian summer monsoon is the biggest source of freshwater resource and more than 70 % of the annual precipitation over India occurs during the monsoon season. Seasonal and annual variations of aerosols and clouds studied along their interactions and impacts on climate. The aerosol, cloud and rainfall interaction play an important role in atmospheric dynamics, climate change, radiation budget.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
