Atmospheric aerosol characterization with a ground-based SPEX spectropolarimetric instrument
Characterization of atmospheric aerosols is important for understanding their impact on health and climate. A wealth of aerosol parameters can be retrieved from multi-angle, multi-wavelength radiance and polarization measurements of the clear sky. We developed a ground-based SPEX instrument (groundS...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2014-12-01
|
| Series: | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/7/4341/2014/amt-7-4341-2014.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819211251445661696 |
|---|---|
| author | G. van Harten J. de Boer J. H. H. Rietjens A. Di Noia F. Snik H. Volten J. M. Smit O. P. Hasekamp J. S. Henzing C. U. Keller |
| author_facet | G. van Harten J. de Boer J. H. H. Rietjens A. Di Noia F. Snik H. Volten J. M. Smit O. P. Hasekamp J. S. Henzing C. U. Keller |
| author_sort | G. van Harten |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Characterization of atmospheric aerosols is important for understanding their
impact on health and climate. A wealth of aerosol parameters can be retrieved
from multi-angle, multi-wavelength radiance and polarization measurements of
the clear sky. We developed a ground-based SPEX instrument (groundSPEX) for
accurate spectropolarimetry, based on the passive, robust, athermal, and
snapshot spectral polarization modulation technique, and is hence ideal for
field deployment. It samples the scattering phase function in the principal
plane in an automated fashion, using a motorized pan/tilt unit and automatic
exposure time detection. Extensive radiometric and polarimetric calibrations
were performed, yielding values for both random noise and systematic
uncertainties. The absolute polarimetric accuracy at low degrees of
polarization is established to be ~5 × 10<sup>−3</sup>. About 70 measurement
sequences have been performed throughout four clear-sky days at Cabauw, the
Netherlands. Several aerosol parameters were retrieved: aerosol optical
thickness, effective radius, and complex refractive index for fine and coarse
mode. The results are in good agreement with the colocated AERONET products,
with a correlation coefficient of ρ = 0.932 for the total aerosol optical
thickness at 550 nm. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T06:24:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0856ec8d19ac40cba9ddfe29fd905747 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1867-1381 1867-8548 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T06:24:06Z |
| publishDate | 2014-12-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| spelling | doaj.art-0856ec8d19ac40cba9ddfe29fd9057472022-12-21T17:57:07ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482014-12-017124341435110.5194/amt-7-4341-2014Atmospheric aerosol characterization with a ground-based SPEX spectropolarimetric instrumentG. van Harten0J. de Boer1J. H. H. Rietjens2A. Di Noia3F. Snik4H. Volten5J. M. Smit6O. P. Hasekamp7J. S. Henzing8C. U. Keller9Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden, the NetherlandsLeiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden, the NetherlandsSRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Utrecht, the NetherlandsSRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Utrecht, the NetherlandsLeiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden, the NetherlandsCentre for Environmental Quality, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the NetherlandsSRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Utrecht, the NetherlandsSRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Utrecht, the NetherlandsNetherlands Institute for Applied Scientific Research – TNO, Utrecht, the NetherlandsLeiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden, the NetherlandsCharacterization of atmospheric aerosols is important for understanding their impact on health and climate. A wealth of aerosol parameters can be retrieved from multi-angle, multi-wavelength radiance and polarization measurements of the clear sky. We developed a ground-based SPEX instrument (groundSPEX) for accurate spectropolarimetry, based on the passive, robust, athermal, and snapshot spectral polarization modulation technique, and is hence ideal for field deployment. It samples the scattering phase function in the principal plane in an automated fashion, using a motorized pan/tilt unit and automatic exposure time detection. Extensive radiometric and polarimetric calibrations were performed, yielding values for both random noise and systematic uncertainties. The absolute polarimetric accuracy at low degrees of polarization is established to be ~5 × 10<sup>−3</sup>. About 70 measurement sequences have been performed throughout four clear-sky days at Cabauw, the Netherlands. Several aerosol parameters were retrieved: aerosol optical thickness, effective radius, and complex refractive index for fine and coarse mode. The results are in good agreement with the colocated AERONET products, with a correlation coefficient of ρ = 0.932 for the total aerosol optical thickness at 550 nm.http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/7/4341/2014/amt-7-4341-2014.pdf |
| spellingShingle | G. van Harten J. de Boer J. H. H. Rietjens A. Di Noia F. Snik H. Volten J. M. Smit O. P. Hasekamp J. S. Henzing C. U. Keller Atmospheric aerosol characterization with a ground-based SPEX spectropolarimetric instrument Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| title | Atmospheric aerosol characterization with a ground-based SPEX spectropolarimetric instrument |
| title_full | Atmospheric aerosol characterization with a ground-based SPEX spectropolarimetric instrument |
| title_fullStr | Atmospheric aerosol characterization with a ground-based SPEX spectropolarimetric instrument |
| title_full_unstemmed | Atmospheric aerosol characterization with a ground-based SPEX spectropolarimetric instrument |
| title_short | Atmospheric aerosol characterization with a ground-based SPEX spectropolarimetric instrument |
| title_sort | atmospheric aerosol characterization with a ground based spex spectropolarimetric instrument |
| url | http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/7/4341/2014/amt-7-4341-2014.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gvanharten atmosphericaerosolcharacterizationwithagroundbasedspexspectropolarimetricinstrument AT jdeboer atmosphericaerosolcharacterizationwithagroundbasedspexspectropolarimetricinstrument AT jhhrietjens atmosphericaerosolcharacterizationwithagroundbasedspexspectropolarimetricinstrument AT adinoia atmosphericaerosolcharacterizationwithagroundbasedspexspectropolarimetricinstrument AT fsnik atmosphericaerosolcharacterizationwithagroundbasedspexspectropolarimetricinstrument AT hvolten atmosphericaerosolcharacterizationwithagroundbasedspexspectropolarimetricinstrument AT jmsmit atmosphericaerosolcharacterizationwithagroundbasedspexspectropolarimetricinstrument AT ophasekamp atmosphericaerosolcharacterizationwithagroundbasedspexspectropolarimetricinstrument AT jshenzing atmosphericaerosolcharacterizationwithagroundbasedspexspectropolarimetricinstrument AT cukeller atmosphericaerosolcharacterizationwithagroundbasedspexspectropolarimetricinstrument |