Aerospace monitoring of smoke aerosol over the European part of Russia in the period of massive forest and peatbog fires in July–August of 2010

Abstract

Based on MODIS satellite observations of aerosol optical depth (AOD) and active fires, as well as on data from the network for aerological radio sounding, we analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution of smoke aerosol on the territory of European Russia (ER) during the period of massive forest and peatbog fires in summer of 2010. An interrelation is found between the structural features of the smoke-polluted regions and the processes of large-scale dynamics. The evolution of the smoke aerosol plume in the metropolitan area is described in detail. The statistical characteristics of AOD variations over ER during the fire period are calculated. The total column smoke aerosol is estimated. The radiation effects of smoke pollution of the atmosphere in the region are studied. The time evolution of the regional average shortwave radiative forcing of smoke aerosol at the top and bottom of the atmosphere is presented, together with the spatial distribution of local values of the radiative forcing in the period of maximum smoke pollution of ER. A statistically significant relation is found between MODIS-diagnosed number of active fires and wind speed and direction. The MODIS data on AOD are validated against observations at the AERONET station in Zvenigorod.