Sensitivity of aerosol optical properties to the aerosol size distribution over central Europe and the Mediterranean Basin using the WRF-Chem v.3.9.1.1 coupled model
<p>The size distribution of atmospheric aerosols plays a key role for understanding and quantifying the uncertainties related to aerosol–radiation and aerosol–cloud interactions. These interactions ultimately depend on the size distribution through optical properties (such as aerosol optical d...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Geoscientific Model Development |
| Online Access: | https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/13/5897/2020/gmd-13-5897-2020.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818647411146358784 |
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| author | L. Palacios-Peña J. D. Fast E. Pravia-Sarabia P. Jiménez-Guerrero P. Jiménez-Guerrero |
| author_facet | L. Palacios-Peña J. D. Fast E. Pravia-Sarabia P. Jiménez-Guerrero P. Jiménez-Guerrero |
| author_sort | L. Palacios-Peña |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>The size distribution of atmospheric aerosols plays a key role for understanding and quantifying the uncertainties related to aerosol–radiation and aerosol–cloud interactions. These interactions ultimately depend on the size distribution through optical properties (such as aerosol optical depth, AOD) or cloud microphysical properties. Hence, the main objective of this contribution is to disentangle the impact of the representation of aerosol size distribution on aerosol optical properties over central Europe, particularly over the Mediterranean Basin, during a summertime aerosol episode. To fulfill this objective, a sensitivity test has been conducted using the coupled chemistry–meteorology model WRF-Chem (Weather Research Forecast model coupled with Chemistry). The test modified the parameters defining a lognormal size distribution (geometric diameter and standard deviation) by 10 %, 20 %, and 50 %. Results reveal that the reduction in the standard deviation of the accumulation mode leads to the largest impacts on AOD due to a transfer of particles from the accumulation mode to the coarse mode. A reduction in the geometric diameter of the accumulation mode also has an influence on AOD representation since particles in this mode are assumed to be smaller. In addition, an increase in the geometric diameter of the coarse mode produces a redistribution through the total size distribution by relocating particles from the finer modes to the coarse.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T01:02:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-127775b30af44dfea40c17bf9af95a2b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1991-959X 1991-9603 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T01:02:06Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geoscientific Model Development |
| spelling | doaj.art-127775b30af44dfea40c17bf9af95a2b2022-12-21T22:09:24ZengCopernicus PublicationsGeoscientific Model Development1991-959X1991-96032020-11-01135897591510.5194/gmd-13-5897-2020Sensitivity of aerosol optical properties to the aerosol size distribution over central Europe and the Mediterranean Basin using the WRF-Chem v.3.9.1.1 coupled modelL. Palacios-Peña0J. D. Fast1E. Pravia-Sarabia2P. Jiménez-Guerrero3P. Jiménez-Guerrero4Physics of the Earth, Regional Campus of International Excellence (CEIT) “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, Murcia , SpainPacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USAPhysics of the Earth, Regional Campus of International Excellence (CEIT) “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, Murcia , SpainPhysics of the Earth, Regional Campus of International Excellence (CEIT) “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, Murcia , SpainBiomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain<p>The size distribution of atmospheric aerosols plays a key role for understanding and quantifying the uncertainties related to aerosol–radiation and aerosol–cloud interactions. These interactions ultimately depend on the size distribution through optical properties (such as aerosol optical depth, AOD) or cloud microphysical properties. Hence, the main objective of this contribution is to disentangle the impact of the representation of aerosol size distribution on aerosol optical properties over central Europe, particularly over the Mediterranean Basin, during a summertime aerosol episode. To fulfill this objective, a sensitivity test has been conducted using the coupled chemistry–meteorology model WRF-Chem (Weather Research Forecast model coupled with Chemistry). The test modified the parameters defining a lognormal size distribution (geometric diameter and standard deviation) by 10 %, 20 %, and 50 %. Results reveal that the reduction in the standard deviation of the accumulation mode leads to the largest impacts on AOD due to a transfer of particles from the accumulation mode to the coarse mode. A reduction in the geometric diameter of the accumulation mode also has an influence on AOD representation since particles in this mode are assumed to be smaller. In addition, an increase in the geometric diameter of the coarse mode produces a redistribution through the total size distribution by relocating particles from the finer modes to the coarse.</p>https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/13/5897/2020/gmd-13-5897-2020.pdf |
| spellingShingle | L. Palacios-Peña J. D. Fast E. Pravia-Sarabia P. Jiménez-Guerrero P. Jiménez-Guerrero Sensitivity of aerosol optical properties to the aerosol size distribution over central Europe and the Mediterranean Basin using the WRF-Chem v.3.9.1.1 coupled model Geoscientific Model Development |
| title | Sensitivity of aerosol optical properties to the aerosol size distribution over central Europe and the Mediterranean Basin using the WRF-Chem v.3.9.1.1 coupled model |
| title_full | Sensitivity of aerosol optical properties to the aerosol size distribution over central Europe and the Mediterranean Basin using the WRF-Chem v.3.9.1.1 coupled model |
| title_fullStr | Sensitivity of aerosol optical properties to the aerosol size distribution over central Europe and the Mediterranean Basin using the WRF-Chem v.3.9.1.1 coupled model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sensitivity of aerosol optical properties to the aerosol size distribution over central Europe and the Mediterranean Basin using the WRF-Chem v.3.9.1.1 coupled model |
| title_short | Sensitivity of aerosol optical properties to the aerosol size distribution over central Europe and the Mediterranean Basin using the WRF-Chem v.3.9.1.1 coupled model |
| title_sort | sensitivity of aerosol optical properties to the aerosol size distribution over central europe and the mediterranean basin using the wrf chem v 3 9 1 1 coupled model |
| url | https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/13/5897/2020/gmd-13-5897-2020.pdf |
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