Multi-wavelength Raman LIDAR for Use in Determining the Microphysical, Optical, and Radiative Properties of Mixed Aerosols

Abstract

The Multi-wavelength Raman LIDAR (MRL) system was developed to enable a better understanding of the complex properties of aerosols in the atmosphere. In this study, the microphysical, optical, and radiative properties of mixed aerosols were retrieved using the discrete aerosol observation products from the MRL. The dust mixing ratio, which is the proportion of dust particles to the total mixed, was derived using the particle depolarization ratio. It was employed in the retrieval of backscattering and extinction coefficient profiles for dust and non-dust particles. The vertical profiles of aerosol optical properties were then used as input parameters in the inversion algorithm for the retrieval of microphysical parameters including the effective radius, refractive index, and the single scattering albedo (SSA). Those products were successfully applied to an analysis of radiative flux using a radiative transfer model. The relationship between the MRL derived extinction and aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) in short-wavelength was assessed over Gwangju, Korea. The results clearly demonstrate that the MRL-derived extinction profiles are a good surrogate for use in the estimation of optical, microphysical, and radiative properties of aerosols. It is considered that the analytical results shown in this study can be used to provide a better understanding of air quality and the variation of local radiative effects due to aerosols.