Aerosol Radiative Forcing Efficiency Research Articles

Warming impact of black carbon aerosols on the direct radiative forcing over a semi-arid location, Solapur in India

In this study, we investigated the aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) using ground-based measurements of PM2.5 and black carbon aerosols at a semi-arid, rain shadow location, Solapur in peninsular India. It is observed that aerosols caused a net cooling effect at top of the atmosphere (TOP) indicating that the aerosols reflect more solar radiation back to space than they absorb. At the surface, the aerosols caused a net cooling effect indicating more presence of scattering type aerosols. The resulting ARF of the aerosols was found to be ranging from +38 Wm-2 in monsoon to +53 Wm-2 in pre-monsoon indicating trapping of energy which resulted in a warming of the atmosphere. However, BC –only forcing indicated a significant warming effect at TOP as well as in the atmosphere which showed the potential of the absorbing carbonaceous aerosols. Overall, BC was responsible for 44% and 32% of the composite ARF, even though it formed only 7% and 2% of composite aerosol in the dry and wet periods, respectively. The warming impact of BC aerosols was also manifested in terms of their contribution to aerosol radiative forcing efficiency (ARFE) which was about four times more for BC-only than that for composite aerosols. More atmospheric heating rates were observed during dry periods for composite and BC-only aerosols than during wet period. These findings have important implications for aerosol-cloud-precipitation studies as well as the atmospheric thermodynamics and hydrological cycle over this semi-arid region where the total aerosol load is not significant and rainfall amount is scarce.

Aerosols heat up the Himalayan climate

The impact of aerosols, especially the absorbing aerosols, in the Himalayan region is important for climate. We closely examine ground-based high-quality observations of aerosol characteristics including radiative forcing from several locations in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), the Himalayan foothills and the Tibetan Plateau, relatively poorly studied regions with several sensitive ecosystems of global importance, as well as highly vulnerable large populations. This paper presents a state-of-the-art treatment of the warming that arises from these particles, using a combination of new measurements and modeling techniques. This is a first-time analysis of its kind, including ground-based observations, satellite data, and model simulations, which reveals that the aerosol radiative forcing efficiency (ARFE) in the atmosphere is clearly high over the IGP and the Himalayan foothills (80–135 Wm−2 per unit aerosol optical depth (AOD)), with values being greater at higher elevations. AOD is >0.30 and single scattering albedo (SSA) is ∼0.90 throughout the year over this region. The mean ARFE is 2–4 times higher here than over other polluted sites in South and East Asia, owing to higher AOD and aerosol absorption (i.e., lower SSA). Further, the observed annual mean aerosol-induced atmospheric heating rates (0.5–0.8 Kelvin/day), which are significantly higher than previously reported values for the region, imply that the aerosols alone could account for >50 % of the total warming (aerosols + greenhouse gases) of the lower atmosphere and surface over this region. We demonstrate that the current state-of-the-art models used in climate assessments significantly underestimate aerosol-induced heating, efficiency and warming over the Hindu Kush – Himalaya – Tibetan Plateau (HKHTP) region, indicating a need for a more realistic representation of aerosol properties, especially of black carbon and other aerosols. The significant, regionally coherent aerosol-induced warming that we observe in the high altitudes of the region, is a significant factor contributing to increasing air temperature, observed accelerated retreat of the glaciers, and changes in the hydrological cycle and precipitation patterns over this region. Thus, aerosols are heating up the Himalayan climate, and will remain a key factor driving climate change over the region.

Atmospheric aerosol size distribution impacts radiative effects over the Himalayas via modulating aerosol single-scattering albedo

The single-scattering albedo (SSA) of atmospheric aerosols is a key parameter that controls aerosol radiative effects. The variation of SSA is thought to be mainly regulated by aerosol absorption in the Himalayas and South Asia, but observations contradict this idea. In situ field campaigns conducted over two Himalayan sites revealed that SSA was strongly dependent on scattering but weakly correlated with absorption. Observational results combined with the Mie theory further illustrated that SSA was primarily modulated by size distribution rather than absorption. Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) data showed similar impacts of size distribution on SSA and that aerosol radiative forcing efficiencies were significantly dependent on SSA. Aerosol size distribution therefore considerably affects radiative forcing by modulating aerosol SSA over the Himalayas. This study highlighted the influence of aerosol size distribution on radiative forcing over the Himalayas, which has important implications for understanding aerosol radiative effects globally.

Radiative effects of absorbing aerosol types over South Asia

A comprehensive study on classifying the aerosol types and absorbing aerosol types, and quantifying the effect of absorbing aerosols on aerosol optical and radiative properties using four years (2015–2016, 2018–2019) of high-quality Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) datasets over Kanpur (urban) and Gandhi College (rural) in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) region is conducted on a seasonal scale, for the first time. Biomass burning (BB), urban-industrial, and mixed aerosol types are always present, whereas dust aerosol and mostly dust absorbing aerosol types are only present in pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. During winter and post-monsoon seasons, BB aerosols and mostly black carbon (MBC) absorbing aerosols dominate, and the contribution of aerosol optical depth (AOD) and single scattering albedo (SSA) corresponding to MBC to total AOD and SSA are higher. SSA for MBC varies over a broader range due to mixing of BC with water-soluble aerosols. During pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons, mixing of dust with anthropogenic aerosols increases the amount of mixed aerosol type. Surface cooling and atmospheric heating efficiency for mixed aerosols are higher than MBC and dust aerosols due to enhancement in aerosol absorption over both locations. Seasonal analysis of aerosol radiative properties showed that during winter and post-monsoon, MBC absorbing aerosols are the major contributor in controlling/influencing the total aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) and heating rate (HR). During the other seasons, each absorbing aerosol type significantly influences ARF depending on their AOD and SSA values. In addition to Kanpur and Gandhi College, data from seven other AERONET sites located at Karachi, Lahore, Jaipur, Lumbini, Pokhara, Bhola, and Dhaka in South Asia are analysed to conduct a regional-scale examination of aerosol optical parameters and radiative effects due to different absorbing aerosol types. As the aerosol characteristics and trends are similar over these sites, the findings from such a regional-scale analysis can be an appropriate representative for the South Asian region. The regional analysis revealed that the annual mean atmospheric ARF (ARFATM) and ARF efficiency (ARFEATM), and HR are higher for MBC, followed by mixed and MD aerosols over South Asia due to higher AOD, and higher absorbing efficiency of MBC aerosols. In comparison, mixed aerosols exhibit higher ARFATM over East Asia. This quantification of absorbing aerosol types over a global aerosol hotspot will be useful for an accurate quantification of climate impacts of aerosols.

Aerosols over East and South Asia: Type Identification, Optical Properties, and Implications for Radiative Forcing

Identification of aerosol types has long been a difficult problem over East and South Asia due to various limitations. In this study, we use 2-dimensional (2-D) and multi-dimensional Mahalanobis distance (MD) clustering algorithms to identify aerosol characteristics based on the data from the Aerosol Robotic Network from March 1998 to February 2018 over the South and East Asian region (10°N~50°N, 70°E~135°E). The single scattering albedo (SSA), absorption Angstrom exponent (AAE), extinction Angstrom exponent (EAE), real index of refraction (RRI), and imaginary index of refraction (IRI) are utilized for classification of aerosols. Sub-regions with similar background conditions over East and South Asia are identified by hierarchical clustering algorithm to illustrate distinctive meteorological states in different areas. The East and South Asian aerosols are found to have distinct regional and seasonal features relating to the meteorological conditions, land cover, and industrial infrastructure. It is found that the proportions of dust aerosol are the highest in spring at the SACOL site and in summer at the sites near the Northern Indo-Gangetic Plain area. In spring, biomass-burning aerosols are dominant over the central Indo-China Peninsula area. The aerosol characteristics at coastal sites are also analyzed and compared with previous results. The 2-D clustering method is useful when limited aerosol parameters are available, but the results are highly dependent on the sets of parameters used for identification. Comparatively, the MD method, which considers multiple aerosol parameters, could provide more comprehensive classification of aerosol types. It is estimated that only about 50% of the data samples that are identifiable by the MD method could be classified by the 2-D methods, and a lot of undetermined data samples could be mis-classified by the 2-D methods. The aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) and the aerosol radiative forcing efficiency (ARFE) of various aerosol types at the top and the bottom of the atmosphere (TOA and BOA) are determined based on the MD aerosol classification. The dust aerosols are found to have the largest ARF at the TOA (−36 W/m2), followed by the urban/industrial aerosols and biomass-burning aerosols. The ARFE of biomass-burning aerosols at the BOA (−165 W/m2/AOD550nm) is the strongest among those of the other aerosol types. The comparison of the results by MD and 2-D methods shows that the differences in ARF and ARFE are generally within 10%. Our results indicate the importance of aerosol type classification in accurately attributing the radiative contributions of different aerosol components.

Scavenging of Black Carbon Aerosols by Radiation Fog in Urban Central China

Radiation fog episodes are characterized by aerosol radiative properties measured at Hefei in urban central China, which hopefully benefits numerical weather prediction and air quality improvement for local governments. In this study, a high mean aerosol optical depth (AOD) is seen over Hefei during the sampling period, whereas an AOD of ~3.0 at 550 nm is observed during the fog episodes. We redefine the fog scavenging coefficient based on its starting and ending points in time, and a black carbon (BC) scavenging coefficient of 30% is observed. Meanwhile, the fog process cannot reduce aerosol number concentrations at size bins between 0.5 and 0.6 μm, whereas a mean particle scavenging coefficient of 21% at sizes within 0.6–1 μm is seen. Significantly large median aerosol scattering coefficient (2690 Mm−1) and absorption coefficient (446 Mm−1) at 550 nm, and low scattering Angstrom exponent in fog are observed, while distinctive particle size distributions between fog and haze are shown. Particle mean size distribution in fog is lower than that in haze at size bins between 0.7 and 2.1 μm, whereas the reverse is true for sizes within 0.5–0.7 μm and larger than 2.1 μm. Aerosol scattering during fog episodes undergoes a bigger increase than particle absorption, and this increase of scattering in fog is even higher than in haze. Median single scattering albedos of 0.86, 0.82, and 0.76 at 550 nm and aerosol radiative forcing efficiencies of −15.0, −14.0, and −10.0 W/m2 are seen for fog, haze and clear periods, respectively, and more negative radiative forcing efficiency emphasizes the significance of fog episodes on climate forcing. Our study clearly reveals the changes of aerosol radiative properties during radiation fog, particularly a synchronous variation of fog aerosol backscattering ratio with the visibility, indicating that more large particles are formed with fog becoming thicker and are scavenged with the dissipation of fog.

Columnar aerosol properties and radiative effects over Dushanbe, Tajikistan in Central Asia

This paper presents the results of the study on columnar aerosol optical and physical properties and radiative effects directly observed over Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan, a NASA AERONET site (equipped with a CIMEL sunphotometer) in Central Asia. The average aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Ångström exponent (AE) during the observation period from July 2010 to April 2018 were found to be 0.28 ± 0.20 and 0.82 ± 0.40, respectively. The highest seasonal AOD (0.32 ± 0.24), accompanied by the lowest average AE (0.61 ± 0.25) and fine-mode fraction in AOD (0.39), was observed during summer due to the influence of coarse particles like dust from arid regions. Fine particles were found in significant amounts during winter. The ‘mixed aerosol’ was identified as the dominant aerosol type with presence of ‘dust aerosol’ during summer and autumn seasons. Aerosol properties like volume size distribution, single scattering albedo, asymmetry parameter and refractive index suggested the influence of coarse particles (during summer and autumn). Most of the air masses reaching this site transported local and regional emissions, including from beyond Central Asia, explaining the presence of various aerosol types in Dushanbe’s atmosphere. The seasonal aerosol radiative forcing efficiency (ARFE) in the atmosphere was found high (>100 Wm−2) and consistent throughout the year. Consequently, this resulted in similar seasonally coherent high atmospheric solar heating rate (HR) of 1.5 K day−1 during summer-autumn-winter, and ca. 0.9 K day−1 during spring season. High ARFE and HR values indicate that atmospheric aerosols could exert significant implications to regional air quality, climate and cryosphere over the central Asian region and downwind Tianshan and Himalaya-Tibetan Plateau mountain regions with sensitive ecosystems.

Aerosol optical properties and radiative effect under different weather conditions in Harbin, China

The aerosol optical properties and radiative effect under different weather conditions in Harbin (126.63°E, 45.75°N) were analyzed based on ground-based Sun/Sky radiometric (CE-318) measurements during September 2016-April 2017. The means values of aerosol optical depth (AOD500) and Angstrom exponent (AE440–870) were 0.37 ± 0.27 and 1.08 ± 0.33, respectively. The mean AOD500 under four weather conditions are apparently higher in severe pollution (Se-Po) days (0.80 ± 0.31) and moderate pollution (Mo-Po) days (0.53 ± 0.25) but lower in slight pollution (Sl-Po) days (0.37 ± 0.26) and no pollution (No-Po) days (0.26 ± 0.20), while the mean values of AE440–870 maintain high, varying from 0.98 to 1.25. The higher AE440–870 indicated that the air quality in Harbin is mainly affected by aerosols originated from anthropogenic sources. The daily values of shortwave (0.25–4 μm) direct aerosol radiative forcing (DARF) at top/bottom of atmosphere (TOA/BOA) were estimated through Santa Barbara DISORT Atmosphere Radiative Transfer (SBDART) model. Further, the aerosol radiative forcing efficiency (ARFE), radiation flux (RF) and atmosphere heating rate (HR) in Harbin were also estimated by the SBDART model.

Assessment of 1D and 3D model simulated radiation flux based on surface measurements and estimation of aerosol forcing and their climatological aspects

Ground reaching solar radiation flux was simulated using a 1-dimensional radiative transfer (SBDART) and a 3-dimensional regional climate (RegCM 4.4) model and their seasonality against simultaneous surface measurements carried out using a CNR4 net Radiometer over a sub-Himalayan foothill site of south-east Asia was assessed for the period from March 2013–January 2015. The model simulated incoming fluxes showed a very good correlation with the measured values with correlation coefficient R2 ~0.97. The mean bias errors between these two varied from −40 W m−2 to +7 W m−2 with an overestimation of 2–3% by SBDART and an underestimation of 2–9% by RegCM. Collocated measurements of the optical parameters of aerosols indicated a reduction in atmospheric transmission path by ~20% due to aerosol load in the atmosphere when compared with the aerosol free atmospheric condition. Estimation of aerosol radiative forcing efficiency (ARFE) indicated that the presence of black carbon (BC, 10–15%) led to a surface dimming by −26.14 W m−2 τ−1 and a potential atmospheric forcing of +43.04 W m−2 τ−1. BC alone is responsible for >70% influence with a major role in building up of forcing efficiency of +55.69 W m−2 τ−1 (composite) in the atmosphere. On the other hand, the scattering due to aerosols enhance the outgoing radiation at the top of the atmosphere (ARFETOA ~−12.60 W m−2 ω−1), the absence of which would have resulted in ARFETOA of ~+16.91 W m−2 τ−1 (due to BC alone). As a result, ~3/4 of the radiation absorption in the atmosphere is ascribed to the presence of BC. This translated to an atmospheric heating rate of ~1.0 K day−1, with ~0.3 K day−1 heating over the elevated regions (2–4 km) of the atmosphere, especially during pre-monsoon season. Comparison of the satellite (MODIS) derived and ground based estimates of surface albedo showed seasonal difference in their magnitudes (R2 ~0.98 during retreating monsoon and winter; ~0.65 during pre-monsoon and monsoon), indicating that the reliability of the satellite data for aerosol radiative forcing estimation is more during the retreating and winter seasons.

Monthly and seasonal variations of aerosol optical properties and direct radiative forcing over Zanjan, Iran

Aerosol optical properties and radiative forcing over Zanjan in northwest of Iran has been analyzed during 2010–2013. The aerosol optical and radiative properties are less studied over Zanjan, and therefore, require a careful and in depth analysis. The optical properties like Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Ångström Exponent (AE), ASYmmetry parameter (ASY), Single Scattering Albedo (SSA), and Aerosol Volume Size Distribution (AVSD) have been evaluated using the ground-based AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) data. Higher AOD while relatively lower AE were observed in the spring and summer, which showed the presence of coarse mode particles in these seasons. An obvious increase of coarse mode particles in AVSD distribution, as well as a higher value of SSA represented considerable addition of coarse mode particles like dust into the atmosphere of Zanjan in these two seasons. Increase in AE, while a decrease in AOD was detected in the winter and fall. The presence of fine particles indicates the dominance of particles like urban-industrial aerosols from local sources especially in the winter. The Santa Barbara DISORT Atmospheric Radiative Transfer (SBDART) model was utilized to calculate the Aerosol Radiative Forcing (ARF) at the Top of the Atmosphere (TOA), earth's surface and within the atmosphere. The annual averaged ARF values were −13.47 W m−2 and −36.1 W m−2 at the TOA and earth's surface, respectively, which indicate a significant cooling effect. Likewise, the ARF efficiencies at the TOA and earth's surface were −65.08 W m−2 and −158.43 W m−2, respectively. The annual mean atmospheric ARF and heating rate within the atmosphere were 22.63 W m−2 and 0.27 Kday−1 respectively, represented the warming effect within the atmosphere. Finally, a good agreement was found between AERONET retrieved ARF and SBDART simulated ARF.

Analysis of Aerosol Radiative Forcing over Beijing under Different Air Quality Conditions Using Ground-Based Sun-Photometers between 2013 and 2015

Aerosol particles can strongly affect both air quality and the radiation budget of the atmosphere. Above Beijing, the capital city of China, large amounts of aerosols within the atmospheric column have caused the deterioration of local air quality and have influenced radiative forcings at both the top and the bottom of the atmosphere (BOA and TOA). Observations of aerosol radiative forcing and its efficiency have been made using two sun-photometers in urban Beijing between 2013 and 2015, and have been analyzed alongside two air quality monitoring stations’ data by dividing air quality conditions into unpolluted, moderately polluted, and heavily polluted days. Daily average PM2.5 concentrations varied greatly in urban Beijing (5.5–485.0 µg/m3) and more than one-third of the analyzed period is classified as being polluted according to the national ambient air quality standards of China. The heavily polluted days had the largest bottom of atmosphere (BOA) and top of atmosphere (TOA) radiative forcings, but the smallest radiative forcing efficiencies, while the unpolluted days showed the opposite characteristics. On heavily polluted days, the averaged BOA aerosol radiative forcing occasionally exceeded −150 W/m2, which represents a value about three-times greater than that for unpolluted days. BOA aerosol radiative forcing was around two-to-three times as large as TOA aerosol radiative forcing under various air quality conditions, although both were mostly negative, suggesting that aerosols had different magnitudes of cooling effects at both the surface and the top of the atmosphere. Unpolluted days had the largest average values of aerosol radiative forcing efficiencies at BOA (and TOA) levels, which exceeded −190 W/m2 (−70 W/m2), compared with the lowest average values in heavily polluted days of around −120 W/m2 (−55 W/m2). These results suggest that the high concentrations of particulate matter pollution in the urban Beijing area had a strong cooling effect at both BOA and TOA levels.

Direct observations of shortwave aerosol radiative forcing at surface and its diurnal variation during the Asian dry season at southwest Indian peninsula

The Arabian Sea witnesses consistent occurrence of a large-scale aerosol plume transported by the northerlies from the Asian region during the dry season (December–April). This paper presents direct observations of the diurnal variation (and dependence on solar zenith angle, SZA) of instantaneous aerosol direct radiative forcing efficiency (IADRFE) and aerosol direct radiative forcing (ADRF) at surface during the period from December to March of 2010–2013 at Thiruvananthapuram (8.5°N, 77°E), an Indian peninsular station adjoining the Arabian Sea coast, which resides well within this aerosol plume. Magnitude of the IADRFE increases with SZA from −75 ± 20 W m−2τ500−1 at SZA of ~80° to attain a peak value of −170 ± 30 W m−2τ500−1 at SZA ~60° in March (~3 h before and after the local noon). Absolute magnitudes and SZA dependence of the observed seasonal mean IADRFE are in agreement (within 16 % of the absolute magnitudes) with those estimated using radiation transfer computations employing an aerosol model with visible band single-scattering albedo of ~0.90 ± 0.03. Observed values of the diurnal mean aerosol radiative forcing efficiency (ADRFE) averaged during the season (December–March) vary between −71 and −76.5 W m−2τ500−1, which is in agreement with the model estimate of −71 W m−2τ500−1. The present observations show that the seasonal mean ADRF at surface (−25 to −28 W m−2) is about 10 % of the diurnal mean downwelling shortwave flux reaching the surface (in the absence of aerosols) during dry season at this location, indicating the major role of aerosols in regulating surface energetics.

Brown haze types due to aerosol pollution at Hefei in the summer and fall

Brown haze episodes were evaluated at Hefei in the summer (June–August) and fall (September–November) seasons, and typical haze types were identified by air-mass back-trajectories and fire spot maps. Compared with clear weather conditions, larger median single scattering albedo values of 0.82 and 0.78 at 550nm were obtained for the summer and fall haze episodes, respectively. Further, the observed lower scattering Angstrom exponents imply that more large particles than small particles dominated the haze plumes, which is in agreement with the profiles of size distribution. Particles during a haze episode in Hefei grow to a size such that the 0.10 limit for the backscattering ratio is reached, which may indicate that the aged aerosols promote the formation of haze episodes. Three typical haze types were identified: biomass burning, anthropogenic industrial and traffic emissions, and brown carbon. Less negative aerosol radiative forcing efficiencies of −12.7 and −10.9Wm−2 in summer and fall were estimated, respectively, for haze impacted by biomass burning, which emphasizes an enhanced significance of biomass burning aerosols on climate forcing.

Aerosol radiative effects during two desert dust events in August 2012 over the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula

This study provides an analysis of desert dust aerosol radiative effects in the shortwave solar spectrum. For this purpose, the aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) at the earth's surface was calculated during two desert dust events that occurred during August 2012 over Badajoz (Spain) and Évora (Portugal), both stations are located in southwestern Iberian Peninsula. Aerosol properties from these two AERONET stations have been employed to feed the libRadtran model used to simulate irradiances in the shortwave range at the surface under cloud-free conditions. In addition, simulated irradiances for Évora have been compared with Eppley pyranometer measurements. Simulated irradiance values have been used to calculate ARF values at both sites. The overall mean simulated ARF values for Évora and Badajoz during the first event are −43.03 and −43.76Wm−2, respectively, while, for the second event, the overall mean values are −19.73 and −26.07Wm−2, respectively, indicating that the first event has a greater regional radiative impact than the second one, causing a more pronounced radiate cooling at the surface.The ARF per unit of aerosol optical depth (AOD), called the aerosol radiative forcing efficiency (ARFE), is also evaluated for this shortwave spectral range. The ARFE values obtained for Évora and Badajoz during the first event are −112.93±6.60Wm−2 and −101.63±10.73Wm−2 per unit of AOD (500nm), respectively, and, for the second event, −92.44±9.82Wm−2 and −87.85±10.19Wm−2 per unit of AOD (500nm), respectively. These values also confirm the previous results, i.e., the first event causes a greater radiate cooling than the second one in both stations, although the second desert dust event is more intense, i.e., with higher aerosol optical depth and PM10 aerosol mass concentration. The presence of absorbing aerosols, together with dust, near the surface during the first event may explain the greater efficiency of this aerosol mixture to reduce the downward shortwave irradiance reaching the surface, inducing a greater radiative cooling than the second event.

In-situ measurements of aerosol properties and estimates of radiative forcing efficiency over Gangetic-Himalayan region during the GVAX field campaign

Regular near-surface measurements of aerosol scattering and absorbing coefficients, along with other aerosol and meteorological parameters, were performed during June 2011 to March 2012 at Nainital, central Himalayas in the frameworks of Ganges Valley Aerosol Experiment (GVAX). The spectral scattering (0.45, 0.55 and 0.70 μm) and absorption (0.467, 0.53 and 0.66 μm) coefficients exhibit increased values in November, mostly affected by the biomass-burning aerosols in Indo-Gangetic Plains. Both parameters are considered for fine (D < 1 μm) and sub-10 μm particles (D < 10 μm) revealing the influence of particle size in aerosol properties. Furthermore, estimations of spectral (0.467, 0.55 and 0.66 μm) single scattering albedo (SSA) and aerosol radiative forcing efficiency (ARFE) at 0.55 μm were performed focussing on determination of the role of particle size in spectral SSA and climate implications. The results show relatively high SSA values ranging from 0.90 (±0.09) to 0.95 (±0.01) for D < 10 μm, and from 0.87 (±0.10) to 0.93 (±0.02) for D < 1 μm particles, on monthly basis, suggesting large heterogeneity in the aerosol sources. The SSA for the sub-micron aerosols decreases with wavelength in the majority of the cases, in contrast to the increase for the super-micron particles suggesting different source apportionment for the particle groups. The ARFE at the top of the atmosphere is found to range from −3 to −20 W m−2 with a mean of ∼−17 W m−2 for both particle-size groups; however, during the June–October period, the ARFE for the sub-10 μm particles is found to be more negative than that for the fine aerosols.

Regional radiative impact of volcanic aerosol from the 2009 eruption of Mt. Redoubt

Abstract. High northern latitude eruptions have the potential to release volcanic aerosol into the Arctic environment, perturbing the Arctic's climate system. We present assessments of shortwave (SW), longwave (LW) and net direct aerosol radiative forcing efficiencies and atmospheric heating/cooling rates caused by volcanic aerosol from the 2009 eruption of Mt. Redoubt by performing radiative transfer modeling constrained by NASA A-Train satellite data. The optical properties of volcanic aerosol were calculated by introducing a compositionally resolved microphysical model developed for both ash and sulfates. Two compositions of volcanic aerosol were considered in order to examine a fresh, ash rich plume and an older, ash poor plume. Optical models were incorporated into a modified version of the SBDART radiative transfer model. Our results indicate that environmental conditions, such as surface albedo and solar zenith angle (SZA), can influence the sign and the magnitude of the radiative forcing at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) and at the surface and the magnitude of the forcing in the aerosol layer. We find that a fresh, thin plume (~2.5–7 km) at an AOD (550 nm) range of 0.18–0.58 and SZA = 55° over snow cools the surface and warms the TOA, but the opposite effect is seen for TOA by the same layer over ocean. The layer over snow also warms by 64 W m−2AOD−1 more than the same plume over seawater. The layer over snow at SZA = 75° warms the TOA 96 W m−2AOD−1 less than it would at SZA = 55° over snow, and there is instead warming at the surface. We also find that plume aging can alter the magnitude of the radiative forcing. An aged plume over snow at SZA = 55° would warm the TOA and layer by 146 and 143 W m−2AOD−1 less than the fresh plume, while the aging plume cools the surface 3 W m−2AOD−1 more. Comparing results for the thin plume to those for a thick plume (~3–20 km), we find that the fresh, thick plume with AOD(550 nm) = 3, over seawater, and SZA = 55° heats the upper part of the plume in the SW ~28 K day−1 more and cools in the LW by ~6.3 K day−1 more than a fresh, thin plume under the same environmental conditions. We compare our assessments with those reported for other aerosols typical to the Arctic environment (smoke from wildfires, Arctic haze, and dust) to demonstrate the importance of volcanic aerosols.

Radiative properties of Bay of Bengal aerosols: Spatial distinctiveness and source impacts

Simultaneous and collocated measurements of spectrally resolved scattering and absorption coefficients and mass concentration of near‐surface composite aerosols in the marine atmosphere over the Bay of Bengal (BOB), along with incoming shortwave (0.3–3 μm) global solar radiation and columnar spectral aerosol optical depths (AOD), were made on a research cruise during the winter phase of the Integrated Campaign for Aerosols, Gases and Radiation Budget (W‐ICARB). The aerosol radiative properties revealed distinct spatial features associated with the contrasting outflows from Indo‐Gangetic Plain (IGP) and East Asia. Both scattering and absorption coefficients depicted very high values (&gt;200 and &gt;15 Mm−1) over the northwestern and southeastern BOB and extremely low values (&lt;50 and &lt;10 Mm−1) over the central BOB. The mean value of the total scattering coefficient at 550 nm (∼123.7 ± 85.3 Mm−1) over the entire BOB during winter was higher than the mean values (∼94 ± 47 Mm−1) reported for the premonsoon season. While SSA at 550 nm showed very low values (&lt;0.8) over a very large region in the central BOB and moderately low values over the southern BOB (∼0.85–0.9), the columnar AOD varied from the least values of ∼0.1 over the northeastern BOB to the highest values of ∼0.8 over the northwestern BOB. While significant cooling was observed at the top of the atmosphere and surface over the northwestern BOB, the atmospheric forcing was found to be significantly high (∼15 W m−2) over the southern BOB, where the aerosol radiative forcing efficiency (ARFE) at the surface was also found to be high. Examination of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)‐derived fire count along with the advection pathways revealed a strong contribution from the emissions of biomass smoke from East Asia, which might be contributing to the enhanced aerosol induced warming over the southern BOB. However, the ARFE at the surface was low over the northwestern BOB, where the advection from IGP was predominant.

Columnar aerosol optical and radiative properties according to season and air mass transport pattern over East Asia

The column-integrated optical and radiative properties of aerosols in the downwind area of East Asia were investigated based on sun/sky radiometer measurements performed from February 2004 to June 2005 at Gwangju (35.23° N, 126.84° E) and Anmyeon (36.54° N, 126.33° E), Korea. The observed aerosol data were analyzed for differences among three seasons: spring (March-May), summer (June-August), and autumn/winter (September-February). The data were also categorized into five types depending on the air mass origin in arriving in the measurement sites: (a) from a northerly direction in spring (S(N)), (b) from a westerly direction in spring (S(W)), (c) cases with a low Ångström exponent (<0.8) in spring (dust), (d) from a northerly direction in autumn/winter (AW(N)), and (e) from a westerly direction during other seasons (AW(W)). The highest Ångström exponents (α) at Gwangju and Anmyeon were 1.43 ± 0.30 and 1.49 ± 0.20, respectively, observed in summer. The lowest column-mean single-scattering albedo (ω) at 440 nm observed at Gwangju and Anmyeon were 0.89 ± 0.02 and 0.88 ± 0.02, respectively, during a period marked by the advection of dust from the Asian continent. The highest ω values at Gwangju and Anmyeon were 0.95 ± 0.02 and 0.96 ± 0.02, respectively, observed in summer. Variations in the aerosol radiative-forcing efficiency (β) were related to the conditions of the air mass origin. The forcing efficiency in summer was -131.7 and -125.6 W m(-2) at the surface in Gwangju and Anmyeon, respectively. These values are lower than those under the atmospheric conditions of spring and autumn/winter. The highest forcing efficiencies in autumn/winter were -214.3 and -255.9 W m(-2) at the surface in Gwangju and Anmyeon, respectively, when the air mass was transported from westerly directions.

Atmospheric aerosols during the 2003 heat wave in southeastern Spain II: Microphysical columnar properties and radiative forcing

The columnar properties of atmospheric aerosol (size distributions, single scattering albedo and asymmetry parameter) are investigated based on sun/sky photometer measurements obtained during August 2003 at Granada (37.18°N, 3.58°W, 680 m a.s.l.), southeastern Spain. Also, we compute and analyze the average aerosol radiative forcing under two different atmospheric situations that occurred during the heat wave event that affected Western Europe during first half of August 2003: intrusions of desert dust and episodes of European–Mediterranean (EUR–MED) air masses influence, both combined with the impact of the intense biomass burning due to the multiple forest fires that affected southern Europe during this period. Interpretation of the results obtained in these analyses has been done using key synoptic aspects evidenced in a previous paper. The results showed that during the heat wave episode and under the different air masses influence the fine particle concentration was more important than that obtained after this event. In the situation of EUR–MED influence the single scattering albedo decreased sharply with wavelength from 0.91±0.02 at 440 nm to 0.83±0.04 at 1020 nm. These values are similar to those obtained by other authors for urban-industrial particles and biomass burning aerosols. The single scattering albedo reported during the dust events (0.87±0.02 at 670 nm) was lower than that obtained using AERONET data characterizing pure desert dust, and did not show the spectral variation indicated in the literature, indicating the possible combination of dust, urban-industrial particles and biomass burning aerosols. Estimates of the local direct aerosol radiative forcing in the 400–700 nm wavelength range were obtained both at ground level and at the top of atmosphere (TOA). The daily radiative forcing efficiencies at the surface ranged between −78.2 and −73.4 W m −2 whereas they were between −19.4 and −14.5 W m −2 at TOA. Aerosol radiative forcing efficiencies at the surface and TOA were slightly larger for EUR–MED case than for desert dust episode. Nevertheless, the daily atmospheric radiative forcing efficiencies obtained in the both cases were similar, about 59 W m −2, indicating that during desert dust episode dust was mixed with considerable amounts of absorbing aerosols.