Distribution of Atmospheric Aerosol over the South China Sea

Shih-Jen Huang,Chen-Chih Lin

doi:10.1155/2015/692762

Shih-Jen Huang, Chen-Chih Lin

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/692762

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Journal: Advances in Meteorology	Publication Date: Jan 1, 2015
Citations: 28	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: National Taiwan Ocean University

Abstract

The satellite-derived aerosol optical depth (AOD) data is used to investigate the distribution of aerosol over the South China Sea (SCS). High correlation coefficients are found between in situ AERONET data and satellite AOD measurements around the SCS with the highest coefficient of 0.9 on the Dongsha Island (i.e., Pratas Island). The empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of AOD over the SCS shows that high AOD is always found around offshore areas of China, Indochina, Sumatra, and Borneo. Besides, spring is the major season of occurring coarse aerosol particles (AOT_C) but fine aerosol particles (AOT_F) occur yearly. The biomass burning is found in Indochina during March and April, and so it is in Sumatra and Borneo from August to October. The results also show that the AOT_F are higher during El Niño events, but higher AOT_C are found in La Niña years.

Highlights

The South China Sea (SCS) is the largest marginal sea of the Pacific in Southeast Asia and abundant with marine resources
We use coarse mode aerosol optical depth (AOD) and fine mode AOD derived from Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) at 550 nm from December 2001 to December 2010 to discuss the variation of coarse aerosol and fine mode aerosol over the SCS
The variation of AOT C is in high agreement with the measured coarse aerosol particles of Aeronet observatory

Summary

Introduction

The South China Sea (SCS) is the largest marginal sea of the Pacific in Southeast Asia and abundant with marine resources. It covers an ocean area from the equator to 22∘N and from 100∘E to 121∘E with a bathymetry deeper than 3000 m in the center and the north. In the summer monsoon season from June to September, the smoke particles associated with biomass burning in Borneo and Sumatra are transported to the southern SCS [5]. Wang et al [14] showed that the dry conditions associated with the El Nino event cause the largest regional biomass burning outbreak.

Data and Methodology

Results and Discussion

Conclusions