Optical and meteorological properties of smoke‐dominated haze at the ARM Southern Great Plains Central Facility

Abstract

The optical and meteorological properties of smoke‐dominated haze at the Southern Great Plains Central Facility of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program from 1997 to 2001 are presented. Aerosol optical properties for smoke‐dominated haze vary with season at the ARM site, with an inter‐seasonal mean single scattering albedo, Ångström exponent, hemispheric backscatter fraction and hygroscopic growth factor of 0.91 ± 0.03, 2.0 ± 0.1, 0.14 ± 0.02 and 1.6 ± 0.2, respectively. In addition, the local seasonal direct radiative forcing for smoke haze ranges from −0.25 to −3.14 Wm−2. Relative to smoke‐free periods, months with enhanced smoke are characterised by reduced cloud cover, increased shortwave radiation, lower liquid water path and precipitation.