Dust Optical Thickness Research Articles

A novel four-stage integrated GIS based fuzzy SWARA approach for solar site suitability with hydrogen storage system

The hydrogen storage system is a suitable solution to solve the periodic nature of solar energy. In this study, a new four stage comprehensive framework based on Geographical information system (GIS) and fuzzy multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) is presented to identify suitable areas for developing solar power plant (SPP) in one of the dust-prone areas of Iran, Yazd province. High-resolution remote sensing data along with organization datasets are used to exclude inappropriate areas using GIS approach. Also, a new application of the SWARA method is introduced to prioritize solar sites by considering the uncertainty in the fuzzy environment. The considered criteria include economic (proximity to the settlements, roads and transmission lines), geography (slope and aspect) and technical criteria (global horizontal irradiance, temperature, dust optical thickness and dust deposition rate). The results showed that 55% of the area is unsuitable for the development of a SPP due to environmental, dust characteristics and topography limitations. Also, 13.8%of the area has a moderate suitability, 26.8% of it has a good suitability and only 4.5% of it has an excellent suitability. In addition, the building SPP in suitable areas in Yazd province has the potential to produce 6926.2 TWh/yr of electricity and 112 Mton/yr of hydrogen.

Aerosol Mineralogical Study Using Laboratory and IASI Measurements: Application to East Asian Deserts

East Asia is the second-largest mineral dust source in the world, after the Sahara. When dispersed in the atmosphere, mineral dust can alter the Earth’s radiation budget by changing the atmosphere’s absorption and scattering properties. Therefore, the mineralogical composition of dust is key to understanding the impact of mineral dust on the atmosphere. This paper presents new information on mineralogical dust during East Asian dust events that were obtained from laboratory dust measurements combined with satellite remote sensing dust detections from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI). However, the mineral dust in this region is lifted above the continent in the lower troposphere, posing constraints due to the large variability in the Land Surface Emissivity (LSE). First, a new methodology was developed to correct the LSE from a mean monthly emissivity dataset. The results show an adjustment in the IASI spectra by acquiring aerosol information. Then, the experimental extinction coefficients of pure minerals were linearly combined to reproduce a Gobi dust spectrum, which allowed for the determination of the mineralogical mass weights. In addition, from the IASI radiances, a spectral dust optical thickness was calculated, displaying features identical to the optical thickness of the Gobi dust measured in the laboratory. The linear combination of pure minerals spectra was also applied to the IASI optical thickness, providing mineralogical mass weights. Finally, the method was applied after LSE optimization, and mineralogical evolution maps were obtained for two dust events in two different seasons and years, May 2017 and March 2021. The mean dust weights originating from the Gobi Desert, Taklamakan Desert, and Horqin Sandy Land are close to the mass weights in the literature. In addition, the spatial variability was linked to possible dust sources, and it was examined with a backward trajectory model. Moreover, a comparison between two IASI instruments on METOP-A and -B proved the method’s applicability to different METOP platforms. Due to all of the above, the applied method is a powerful tool for exploiting dust mineralogy and dust sources using both laboratory optical properties and IASI detections.

Long-term profiling of aerosol light extinction, particle mass, cloud condensation nuclei, and ice-nucleating particle concentration over Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in Central Asia

Abstract. For the first time, continuous, vertically resolved long-term aerosol measurements were conducted with a state-of-the-art multiwavelength lidar over a Central Asian site. Such observations are urgently required in efforts to predict future climate and environmental conditions and to support spaceborne remote sensing (ground truth activities). The lidar observations were performed in the framework of the Central Asian Dust Experiment (CADEX) at Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from March 2015 to August 2016. An AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) sun photometer was operated at the lidar field site. During the 18-month campaign, mixtures of continental aerosol pollution and mineral dust were frequently detected from ground to cirrus height level. Regional sources of dust and pollution as well as long-range transport of mineral dust mainly from Middle Eastern and the Saharan deserts determine the aerosol conditions over Tajikistan. In this study, we summarize our findings and present seasonally resolved statistics regarding aerosol layering (main aerosol layer depth, lofted layer occurrence); optical properties (aerosol and dust optical thicknesses at 500–532 nm, vertically resolved light-extinction coefficient at 532 nm); profiles of dust and non-dust mass concentrations and dust fraction; and profiles of particle parameters relevant for liquid water, mixed-phase cloud, and cirrus formation such as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice-nucleating particle (INP) concentrations. The main aerosol layer over Dushanbe typically reaches 4–5 km height in spring to autumn. Frequently lofted dust-containing aerosol layers were observed at heights from 5 to 10 km, indicating a sensitive potential of dust to influence cloud ice formation. Typical dust mass fractions were of the order of 60 %–80 %. A considerable fraction is thus anthropogenic pollution and biomass burning smoke. The highest aerosol pollution levels (in the relatively shallow winter boundary layer) occur during the winter months. The seasonal mean 500 nm AOT (aerosol optical thickness) ranges from 0.15 in winter to 0.36 in summer during the CADEX period (March 2015 to August 2016); DOTs (dust optical thicknesses) were usually below 0.2; seasonally mean particle extinction coefficients were of the order of 100–500 Mm−1 in the main aerosol layer during the summer half year and about 100–150 Mm−1 in winter but were mainly caused by anthropogenic haze. Accordingly, the highest dust mass concentrations occurred in the summer season (200–600 µg m−3) and the lowest during the winter months (20–50 µg m−3) in the main aerosol layer. In winter, the aerosol pollution mass concentrations were 20–50 µg m−3, while during the summer half year (spring to autumn), the mass concentration caused by urban haze and biomass burning smoke decreases to 10–20 µg m−3 in the lower troposphere. The CCN concentration levels are always controlled by aerosol pollution. The INP concentrations were found to be high enough in the middle and upper troposphere to significantly influence ice formation in mixed-phase and ice clouds during spring and summer seasons.

Delineation of marine ecosystem zones in the northern Arabian Sea during winter

Abstract. The spatial and temporal variability of marine autotrophic abundance, expressed as chlorophyll concentration, is monitored from space and used to delineate the surface signature of marine ecosystem zones with distinct optical characteristics. An objective zoning method is presented and applied to satellite-derived Chlorophyll a (Chl a) data from the northern Arabian Sea (50–75∘ E and 15–30∘ N) during the winter months (November–March). Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were used to statistically delineate the Chl a into zones with similar surface distribution patterns and temporal variability. The PCA identifies principal components of variability and the CA splits these into zones based on similar characteristics. Based on the temporal variability of the Chl a pattern within the study area, the statistical clustering revealed six distinct ecological zones. The obtained zones are related to the Longhurst provinces to evaluate how these compared to established ecological provinces. The Chl a variability within each zone was then compared with the variability of oceanic and atmospheric properties viz. mixed-layer depth (MLD), wind speed, sea-surface temperature (SST), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), nitrate and dust optical thickness (DOT) as an indication of atmospheric input of iron to the ocean. The analysis showed that in all zones, peak values of Chl a coincided with low SST and deep MLD. The rate of decrease in SST and the deepening of MLD are observed to trigger the algae bloom events in the first four zones. Lagged cross-correlation analysis shows that peak Chl a follows peak MLD and SST minima. The MLD time lag is shorter than the SST lag by 8 days, indicating that the cool surface conditions might have enhanced mixing, leading to increased primary production in the study area. An analysis of monthly climatological nitrate values showed increased concentrations associated with the deepening of the mixed layer. The input of iron seems to be important in both the open-ocean and coastal areas of the northern and north-western parts of the northern Arabian Sea, where the seasonal variability of the Chl a pattern closely follows the variability of iron deposition.

Comparison of Seasonal Cycles of Phytoplankton Chlorophyll, Aerosols, Winds and Sea-Surface Temperature off Somalia

In climate research, an important task is to characterise the relationships between Essential Climate Variables (ECVs). Here, satellite-derived data sets have been used to examine the seasonal cycle of phytoplankton (chlorophyll concentration) in the waters off Somalia, and its relationship to aerosols, winds and Sea Surface Temperature (SST). Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration, Aerosol Optical Thickness (AOT), A° ngstro¨m Exponent (AE), Dust Optical Thickness (DOT), Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and sea-surface wind data for a 16-year period were assembled from various sources. The data were used to explore whether there is evidence in the data to show that dust aerosols enhance Chl-a concentration in the study area. The Cross 11 Correlation Function (CCF) showed highest positive correlation (r2=0.3) in the western Arabian Sea when AOT led Chl-a by 1 to 2 time steps (here, 1 time step is 8 days). A 2o□ 2obox off Somalia was selected for further investigations. The correlations of alongshore wind speed, Ekman Mass Transport (EMT) and SST with Chl-a were higher than that of AOT, for a lag of 8 days. When all four variables were considered together in a multiple linear regression, the increase in r2 associated with the AOT is only about 0.02, a consequence of covariance among AOT, SST, EMT and alongshore wind speed. The AOT data show presence of dust aerosols most frequently during the summer monsoon season (June- September). When the analyses were repeated for the dust aerosol events, the correlations were generally lower, but still significant. Again, the inclusion of DOT in the multiple linear regression increased the correlation coefficient by only 2%, indicating minor enhancement in Chl-a concentration. Interestingly, during summer monsoon season, there is a higher probability of finding more instances of positive changes in Chl-a after one time step, regardless of whether there is dust aerosol or not. On the other hand, during the winter monsoon season (November-December) and rest of the year, the probability of Chl-a enhancement is higher when dust aerosol is present than when dust aerosol is present than when it is absent. The phase relationship in the annual climatologies of Chl-a and AOT

MODELING THE TRANS-ATLANTIC TRANSPORTATION OF SAHARAN DUST

In the present study we are simulating the trans-Atlantic transport of dust from Sahara to the South-Central America, using the regional climate model RegCM4 and its online dust scheme, for the year 2007. The simulated horizontal and vertical distributions of the mineral dust optical properties were evaluated against the LIVAS CALIPSO satellite dust product. The Trans-Atlantic dust transport is simulated adequately with RegCM4, but there are some spatial discrepancies. Dust optical thickness is overestimated in the eastern Sahara throughout the year by 0.1-0.2, while near the gulf of Guinea is underestimated during winter and spring. Although RegCM4 dust plume is located southern on winter and spring, it doesn't spatially match the dust optical thickness of LIVAS. In summer and autumn the vertical distribution of dust between 3-4km during the Trans-Atlantic transport is simulated by the model adequately up to 30ºW 40ºW longitude. However, during winter-spring RegCM4 misplaces dust loading into higher altitude. Finally, we discuss some possible reasons and mechanisms that might be responsible for the differences between the model and the observations.

Seasonal Variations of the Relative Optical Air Mass Function for Background Aerosol and Thin Cirrus Clouds at Arctic and Antarctic Sites

New calculations of the relative optical air mass function are made over the 0°–87° range of apparent solar zenith angle θ, for various vertical profiles of background aerosol, diamond dust and thin cirrus cloud particle extinction coefficient in the Arctic and Antarctic atmospheres. The calculations were carried out by following the Tomasi and Petkov (2014) procedure, in which the above-mentioned vertical profiles derived from lidar observations were used as weighting functions. Different sets of lidar measurements were examined, recorded using: (i) the Koldewey-Aerosol-Raman Lidar (KARL) system (AWI, Germany) at Ny-Ålesund (Spitsbergen, Svalbard) in January, April, July and October 2013; (ii) the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite-based sensor over Barrow (Alaska), Eureka (Nunavut, Canada) and Sodankylä (northern Finland), and Neumayer III, Mario Zucchelli and Mirny coastal stations in Antarctica in the local summer months of the last two years; (iii) the National Institute of Optics (INO), National Council of Research (CNR) Antarctic lidar at Dome C on the Antarctic Plateau for a typical “diamond dust” case; and (iv) the KARL lidar at Ny-Ålesund and the University of Rome/National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) lidar at Thule (northwestern Greenland) for some cirrus cloud layers in the middle and upper troposphere. The relative optical air mass calculations are compared with those obtained by Tomasi and Petkov (2014) to define the seasonal changes produced by aerosol particles, diamond dust and cirrus clouds. The results indicate that the corresponding air mass functions generally decrease as angle θ increases with rates that are proportional to the increase in the pure aerosol, diamond dust and cirrus cloud particle optical thickness.

Tropical Atlantic dust and smoke aerosol variations related to the Madden‐Julian Oscillation in MODIS and MISR observations

AbstractIn this study, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) fine mode fraction and Multi‐angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) nonspherical fraction data are used to derive dust and smoke aerosol optical thickness (τdust and τsmoke) over the tropical Atlantic in a complementary way: due to its wider swath, MODIS has 3–4 times greater sampling than MISR, but MISR dust discrimination is based on particle shape retrievals, whereas an empirical scheme is used for MODIS. MODIS and MISR show very similar dust and smoke winter climatologies. τdust is the dominant aerosol component over the tropical Atlantic, accounting for 40–70% of the total aerosol optical thickness (AOT), whereas τsmoke is significantly smaller than τdust. The consistency and high correlation between these climatologies and their daily variations lends confidence to their use for investigating the relative dust and smoke contributions to the total AOT variation associated with the Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO). The temporal evolution and spatial patterns of the τdus anomalies associated with the MJO are consistent between MODIS and MISR: the magnitude of MJO‐realted τdust anomalies is comparable to or even larger than that of the total τ, while the τsmoke anomaly represents about 15% compared to the total, which is quite different from their relative magnitudes to the total τ on the climatological time scale. This suggests that dust and smoke are not influenced by the MJO in the same way. Based on correlation analysis, dust is strongly influenced by the MJO‐modulated trade wind and precipitation anomalies, and can last as long as one MJO phase, whereas smoke is less affected.

Comparing two years of Saharan dust source activation obtained by regional modelling and satellite observations

Abstract. A regional-scale dust model is used to simulate Saharan dust emissions and atmospheric distributions in the years 2007 and 2008. The model results are compared to dust source activation events compiled from infrared dust index imagery from the geostationary Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite. The observed morning maximum in dust source activation frequencies indicates that the breakdown of nocturnal low level jets is an important mechanism for dust source activation in the Sahara. The comparison shows that the time of the day of the onset of dust emission is delayed in the model compared to the observations. Also, the simulated number of dust emission events associated with nocturnal low level jets in mountainous regions is underestimated in the model. The MSG dust index observations indicate a strong increase in dust source activation frequencies in the year 2008 compared to 2007. The difference between the two years is less pronounced in the model. Observations of dust optical thickness, e.g. at stations of the sunphotometer network AERONET, do not show such increase, in agreement with the model results. This indicates that the number of observed dust activation events is only of limited use for estimating actual dust emission fluxes in the Sahara. The ability to reproduce interannual variability of Saharan dust with models remains an important challenge for understanding the controls of the atmospheric dust load.

Impact of dust particle non‐sphericity on climate simulations

AbstractAlthough mineral aerosol (dust) particles are irregular in shape, they are treated as homogeneous spheres in climate model radiative transfer calculations. Here, we test the effect of dust particle non‐sphericity in the ECHAM5.5‐HAM2 global aerosol–climate model. The short‐wave optical properties of the two insoluble dust modes in HAM2 are modelled using an ensemble of spheroids that has been optimized to reproduce the optical properties of dust‐like aerosols, thereby providing a significant improvement over spheres. First, the direct radiative effects (DRE) of dust non‐sphericity were evaluated diagnostically, by comparing spheroids with both volume‐equivalent and volume‐to‐area (V/A) equivalent spheres. In the volume‐equivalent case, the short‐wave DRE of insoluble dust at the surface and at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) was slightly smaller (typically by 3–4%) for spheroidal than for spherical dust particles. This rather small difference stems from compensating non‐sphericity effects on the dust optical thickness and asymmetry parameter. In the V/A‐equivalent case, the difference in optical thickness was virtually eliminated and the DRE at the TOA (surface) was ∼20% (∼13%) smaller for spheroids than for spheres, due to a larger asymmetry parameter. Even then, however, the global‐mean DRE of non‐sphericity was only 0.055 W m−2at the TOA and 0.070 W m−2at the surface. Subsequently, the effects of dust non‐sphericity were tested interactively in simulations in which ECHAM5.5‐HAM2 was coupled to a mixed‐layer ocean model. Consistent with the rather small radiative effects noted above, the climatic differences from simulations with spherical dust optics were generally negligible.

An assessment of Saharan dust loading and the corresponding cloud‐free longwave direct radiative effect from geostationary satellite observations

Previously, a method was developed to quantify Saharan dust optical thickness and simultaneously diagnose the cloud‐free longwave dust direct radiative effect (LWDRE) over a single surface site using observations from the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) and Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget (GERB) instrument both flying on the Meteosat Second Generation series of satellites. In this paper the overall utility of the approach is investigated using a more comprehensive suite of observations, and the inherent uncertainties associated with the method are assessed. On the basis of these findings, the approach has been updated to account for the effects of varying dust layer altitude. Comparisons with colocated observations from the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) and Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) using the modified approach indicate that the visible optical thickness at 0.55 μm, τ055, can be obtained with an RMS uncertainty of ∼0.3 over North Africa and Arabia during sunlit hours, while monthly maps of optical depth derived over this region through spring and summer of 2006 show similar variability to that identified in the long‐term climatology provided by the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) Aerosol Index. The regional mean instantaneous cloud‐free LWDRE and associated LW radiative efficiency estimated from GERB over the same period are relatively constant with season, ranging from 9 to 11 W m−2 and 16–20 W m−2τ055−1, respectively.

Does dust change the clear sky top of atmosphere shortwave flux over high surface reflectance regions?

Using four stream radiative transfer calculations, satellite‐derived aerosol optical thickness at 558 nm and top of atmosphere (TOA) broadband radiative fluxes we examine the effect of mineral dust aerosols on the clear sky TOA shortwave (0.3–5 μm) fluxes over the Saharan desert [30E‐10W, 15N‐30N]. Over very bright surfaces (surface albedo > 35%), the TOA shortwave flux, from both satellite measurements and model calculations, is nearly insensitive to the increase in dust optical thickness. Below this surface albedo value, known as the critical albedo, mineral dust aerosols show scattering effects and above this they show absorbing effects. Therefore, over desert regions with a large range of surface albedo values, scattering and absorbing effects compensate each other thereby making the TOA shortwave aerosol radiative effect rather small.

Investigations of the March 2006 African dust storm using ground‐based column‐integrated high spectral resolution infrared (8–13 μm) and visible aerosol optical thickness measurements: 1. Measurement procedures and results

The infrared (IR) aerosol optical thickness (AOT) spectra of Saharan dust measured during the Portable Infrared Aerosol Transmission Experiment (PIRATE) are reported. Saharan dust optical thickness (extinction) spectra from 8 to 13 μm were obtained using column‐integrated solar transmission measurements in Puerto Rico in July 2005 and Senegal in January and March 2006 (during a dust plume) using a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. The FTIR measured the solar spectral irradiance in the IR in the presence of Saharan dust, and the AOT was determined by comparing the measured spectra to modeled downwelling spectra without dust for the same atmospheric temperature profile, solar zenith angle, water vapor, and ozone concentrations. The modeled dust‐free spectra are generated using the Santa Barbara Disort Atmospheric Radiative Transfer (SBDART) program. The measured dust AOT is compared with modeled AOT spectra obtained using Mie theory with dust indices of refraction from Volz and Fouquart with assumed lognormal size distributions. When the visible AOT values from nearby Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) sensors are compared to the IR AOT values, results from various dust loadings show that the IR dust AOT at 9.5 μm is typically only one third that of the visible (670 nm) dust AOT, but there is some evidence that this ratio could increase for larger dust size distributions. The surface IR dust forcing is determined to be about −0.4 W/m2 by summing the dusty and clear irradiance differences.

Predictability of mineral dust concentrations: The African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis first short observation period forecasted with CHIMERE‐DUST

The predictability of northern Africa dust events is assessed using daily numerical forecast simulations for the next 3 days. The dust concentration fields, modeled with the CHIMERE‐DUST model, were first evaluated by comparison with both Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) surface data and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) satellite measurements. The accuracy and spread between measurements and simulations are discussed for the first short observation period of the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA) experiment in western Africa, between January and March 2006. The predictability of dust events was then estimated by comparing model results for different leads in a forecast mode. The model performance was evaluated with respect to its capability to forecast the surface wind speed, which is the key process for dust emission, and the transport of mineral dust near source regions and toward remote areas. It is shown that forecast emissions can vary up to 80% (close to the sources) but that the variability on forecasted dust concentrations and optical thicknesses do not exceed 40% and 20%.

Saharan dust transport and deposition towards the tropical northern Atlantic

Abstract. We present a study of Saharan dust export towards the tropical North Atlantic using the regional dust emission, transport and deposition model LM-MUSCAT. Horizontal and vertical distribution of dust optical thickness, concentration, and dry and wet deposition rates are used to describe seasonality of dust export and deposition towards the eastern Atlantic for three typical months in different seasons. Deposition rates strongly depend on the vertical dust distribution, which differs with seasons. Furthermore the contribution of dust originating from the Bodélé Depression to Saharan dust over the Atlantic is investigated. A maximum contribution of Bodélé dust transported towards the Cape Verde Islands is evident in winter when the Bodélé source area is most active and dominant with regard to activation frequency and dust emission. Limitations of using satellite retrievals to estimate dust deposition are highlighted.

A study of the properties of a local dust storm with Mars Express OMEGA and PFS data

We present observations of a local dust storm performed by the OMEGA and PFS instruments aboard Mars Express. OMEGA observations are used to retrieve the dust single-scattering albedo in the spectral range 0.4–4.0 μm. The single-scattering albedo shows fairly constant values between 0.6 and 2.6 μm, and a sharp decrease at wavelengths shorter than 0.6 μm, in agreement with previous studies. It presents a small absorption feature due to ferric oxide at 0.9 μm, and a strong absorption feature due to hydrated minerals between 2.7 and 3.6 μm. We use a statistical method, the Independent Component Analysis, to determine that the dust spectral signature is decoupled from the surface albedo, proving that the retrieval of the single-scattering albedo is reliable, and we map the dust optical thickness with a conventional radiative transfer model. The effect of the dust storm on the atmospheric thermal structure is measured using PFS observations. We also simulate the thermal impact of the dust storm using a one-dimensional atmospheric model. A comparison of the retrieved and modeled temperature structures suggests that the dust in the storm should be confined to the 1–2 lowest scale heights of the atmosphere. However, the observed OMEGA reflectance in the CO 2 absorption bands does not support this suggestion.

Regional Saharan dust modelling during the SAMUM 2006 campaign

The regional dust model system LM-MUSCAT-DES was developed in the framework of the SAMUM project. Using the unique comprehensive data set of near-source dust properties during the 2006SAMUMfield campaign, the performance of the model system is evaluated for two time periods in May and June 2006. Dust optical thicknesses, number size distributions and the position of the maximum dust extinction in the vertical profiles agree well with the observations. However, the spatio-temporal evolution of the dust plumes is not always reproduced due to inaccuracies in the dust source placement by the model. While simulated winds and dust distributions are well matched for dust events caused by dry synoptic-scale dynamics, they are often misrepresented when dust emissions are caused by moist convection or influenced by small-scale topography that is not resolved by the model. In contrast to long-range dust transport, in the vicinity of source regions the model performance strongly depends on the correct prediction of the exact location of sources. Insufficiently resolved vertical grid spacing causes the absence of inversions in the model vertical profiles and likely explains the absence of the observed sharply defined dust layers.

Dust absorption averaged over the Sahara inferred from moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer

We estimated the average dust single scattering albedo (omega(0)) over the Sahara using four years of moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer data. The method employed is based on the theory that the critical surface reflectance (rho(c)) for which the reflectance at the top-of-the-atmosphere is not influenced by the variability of dust optical thickness depends on omega(0). The average dust absorption over the Sahara was estimated to be smaller than that previously reported in the literature, and this may be causing the cooling of the climate system. Our method enables one to estimate omega(0) from data with a variety of aerosol optical thickness values using samples in the vicinity of rho(c). Use of satellite data over large areas and for long periods enables quantification of the average dust absorption over the entire Sahara.

On the direct and semidirect effects of Saharan dust over Europe: A modeling study

On the basis of a new regional dust model system, the sensitivity of radiative forcing to dust aerosol properties and the impact on atmospheric dynamics were investigated. Uncertainties in optical properties were related to uncertainties in the complex spectral refractive index of mineral dust. The climatological‐based distribution of desert‐type aerosol in the radiation scheme of the nonhydrostatic regional model LM was replaced by dust optical properties from spectral refractive indices, derived from in situ measurements, remote sensing, bulk measurements, and laboratory experiments, employing Mie theory. The model computes changes in the solar and terrestrial irradiance from a spatially and temporally varying atmospheric dust load for five size classes. A model study of a Saharan dust outbreak in October 2001 was carried out when large amounts of Saharan dust were transported to Europe. The dust optical thickness computed from the simulation results in values of about 0.5 in large regions of the Saharan desert but can be larger than 5.0 near large dust sources (for example, Bodélé depression). During the dust outbreak, the aerosol in the southern Sahara causes a daytime reduction in 2‐m temperature of 3 K in average with differences of 10% depending on used dust optical properties. The simulations indicated that the large variability in radiative properties due to different mixture of clay aggregates in Saharan dust can lead in regional average to differences of up to 48% in net forcing efficiency at top of the atmosphere.

Optical properties of Asian dusts in the free atmosphere measured by Raman lidar at Taipei, Taiwan

The optical properties (extinction-to-backscatter ratio, backscattering, depolarization, and backscatter-related Angstrom exponent) and height distribution of Asian dusts were measured using a two-wavelength Raman/depolarization lidar at Taipei, Taiwan, during the Asian dust seasons in 2004 and 2005. Dust layers were frequently observed in the free atmosphere (1–6 km). Dust optical thickness ranged from 0.01 to 0.55; backscatter-related Angstrom exponents ranged from 0.42 to 1.47; and lidar ratios (extinction-to-backscatter ratio) for 355 nm ranged from 32 to 72 sr (steradian). The mean values of dust particle depolarization and extinction coefficient are 14 ± 6 % and 0.16 km - 1 , respectively, which are close to the moderate dust depolarizations and extinctions observed in free atmosphere in China and Japan. Backscatter-related Angstrom exponents were found correlated positively with lidar ratio and negatively with particle depolarization, indicating that the dust optical characteristics are predominated by size distribution. Dusts were found to tend to exhibit unusual low depolarization properties under moist conditions (relative humidity RH > 70 % ), and the possible explanations are discussed.