Responses of the Optical Properties and Distribution of Aerosols to the Summer Monsoon in the Main Climate Zones of China

Bing Bai,Fei Yin,Pengcheng Huang,Dan Tan,Qiang Zhang

doi:10.3390/atmos12040482

Abstract

The influence of aerosols on climate varies greatly within different spatial zones. China has a very prominent summer monsoon climate and summer monsoon activity basically determines the climate distribution pattern. Consequently, we need to understand the aerosol optical properties and spatial distribution under the background of summer monsoon activity in China, which is the basis for further research on the impact of aerosols on the climate system. Based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA-2) data, the spatial response of the high aerosol optical depth (AOD) region in China to the advance and retreat of summer monsoon was analyzed. The main types of aerosol and the contribution of each type of aerosol particles to the total AOD were discussed. The results showed that before the landing of summer monsoon, the high value areas of AOD were distributed in the eastern Sichuan Basin, Changsha, Wuhan and Pearl River Delta regions. With the northward advance of the monsoon, the high value areas moved to the transition region affected by the summer monsoon and the AOD in this region was highly sensitive to the summer monsoon. The main aerosol types were dust and sulfate in this region and the contribution to total AOD was 27% and 57%, respectively; before the monsoon onset, the contribution of dust to total AOD was 16%, and that of sulfate was 18%; after the monsoon onset, the contribution of dust decreased by half to 8%, while the contribution of sulfate aerosol increased to 20%.

Highlights

China is affected by the summer monsoon, which operates at different intensities and over different durations in different parts of the country
The main aerosol types were dust and sulfate in this region and the contribution to total aerosol optical depth (AOD) was 27% and 57%, respectively; before the monsoon onset, the contribution of dust to total AOD was 16%, and that of sulfate was 18%; after the monsoon onset, the contribution of dust decreased by half to 8%, while the contribution of sulfate aerosol increased to 20%
Precipitation can reduce the aerosol osols in clouds. They speculated that the increase in absorptive aerosols in the atmosconcentration in the atmosphere; water vapor can significantly change the optical phere was the main reason for the drought in northern China and the floods in southern properties of atmospheric summer monsoon transition zone has chemicalThe composition of atmospheric aerosols in become differ- the core area of aridification and desertification in it is essential to clarify ent cities in China and found that the Sichuan Basin and eastern China were mostly the types and spatial characteristics of aerosols in this area

Summary

Introduction

China is affected by the summer monsoon, which operates at different intensities and over different durations in different parts of the country. Precipitation can reduce the aerosol osols in clouds They speculated that the increase in absorptive aerosols in the atmosconcentration in the atmosphere; water vapor can significantly change the optical phere was the main reason for the drought in northern China and the floods in southern properties of atmospheric summer monsoon transition zone has. They found primary source areas of global aerosols, but experiences a profound surface cooling effect that direct radiative heating due to aerosols affects the physical quantities of aerosols caused by aerosols. This study investigated the response of aerosol optical depth (AOD) to the East Asian summer monsoon circulation in China’s different climate zones, and its role in weakening the summer monsoon. The study clarified the contribution of different types of aerosol particle to the AOD

Data and Methods

Terra Satellite Data

Results