Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
Characterizing the way satellite-based aerosol statistics change near clouds is important for better understanding both aerosol-cloud interactions and aerosol direct radiative forcing. This study focuses on the question of whether the observed near-cloud increases in aerosol optical thickness and particle size may be explained by a combination of two factors: (i) Near-cloud data coming from areas with higher cloud fractions than far-from-cloud data and (ii) Cloud fraction being correlated with aerosol optical thickness and particle size. This question is addressed through a statistical analysis of aerosol parameters included in the MODIS (MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) ocean color product. Results from ten Septembers (2002–2011) over part of the northeast Atlantic Ocean confirm that the combination of these two factors working together explains a significant but not dominant part (in our case, 15%–30%) of mean optical thickness changes near clouds. Overall, the findings show that cloud fraction plays a large role in shaping the way aerosol statistics change with distance to clouds. This implies that both cloud fraction and distance to clouds are important to consider when aerosol-cloud interactions or aerosol direct radiative effects are examined in satellite or modeling studies.
Highlights
During the past decade, a variety of ground-based [1,2,3], aircraft [4,5], and satellite [6,7,8,9]measurements have indicated that aerosol populations are significantly different near clouds and far from clouds
Most recently, analyzing Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) data, [20] showed (Figure 1) that data sampling can make overall statistics of aerosol properties change with distance to clouds, given that far-from-cloud aerosol statistics are dominated by data from scenes with lower cloud fraction (CF), while near-cloud aerosol statistics are dominated by data from scenes with higher CF
It investigated whether the near-cloud increases in optical thickness and particle size found in earlier studies may be explained by the combination of two factors: (i) Near-cloud data coming from areas with higher cloud fractions than far-from-cloud data and (ii) Cloud fraction being correlated with aerosol optical thickness and particle size
Summary
A variety of ground-based [1,2,3], aircraft [4,5], and satellite [6,7,8,9]. Most recently, analyzing Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) data, [20] showed (Figure 1) that data sampling can make overall statistics of aerosol properties change with distance to clouds, given that far-from-cloud aerosol statistics are dominated by data from scenes with lower cloud fraction (CF), while near-cloud aerosol statistics are dominated by data from scenes with higher CF This may lead to a statistical increase of aerosol optical thickness (AOT) near clouds because, as reported in several papers [21,22,23,24], AOT is positively correlated with.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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.
