A multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy aerosol profile retrieval algorithm for high-altitude measurements: application to measurements at Schneefernerhaus (UFS), Germany

<p>We present a new aerosol extinction profile retrieval algorithm for multi-axis differential optical absorption spectrometer (MAX-DOAS) measurements at high-altitude sites. The algorithm is based on the lookup table method. It is applied to retrieve aerosol extinction profiles from the long-...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Z. Wang, K. L. Chan, K.-P. Heue, A. Doicu, T. Wagner, R. Holla, M. Wiegner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2020-04-01
Series:Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Online Access:https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/13/1835/2020/amt-13-1835-2020.pdf
_version_ 1818388918682255360
author Z. Wang
Z. Wang
K. L. Chan
K.-P. Heue
A. Doicu
T. Wagner
R. Holla
M. Wiegner
author_facet Z. Wang
Z. Wang
K. L. Chan
K.-P. Heue
A. Doicu
T. Wagner
R. Holla
M. Wiegner
author_sort Z. Wang
collection DOAJ
description <p>We present a new aerosol extinction profile retrieval algorithm for multi-axis differential optical absorption spectrometer (MAX-DOAS) measurements at high-altitude sites. The algorithm is based on the lookup table method. It is applied to retrieve aerosol extinction profiles from the long-term MAX-DOAS measurements (February 2012 to February 2016) at the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus (UFS), Germany (47.417<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>&thinsp;N, 10.980<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>&thinsp;E), which is located near the summit of Zugspitze at an altitude of 2650&thinsp;m. The lookup table consists of simulated <span class="inline-formula">O<sub>4</sub></span> differential slant column densities (DSCDs) corresponding to numerous possible aerosol extinction profiles. The sensitivities of <span class="inline-formula">O<sub>4</sub></span> absorption to several parameters were investigated for the design and parameterization of the lookup table. In the retrieval, simulated <span class="inline-formula">O<sub>4</sub></span> DSCDs for each possible profile are derived by interpolating the lookup table to the observation geometries. The cost functions are calculated for each aerosol profile in the lookup table based on the simulated <span class="inline-formula">O<sub>4</sub></span> DSCDs, the <span class="inline-formula">O<sub>4</sub></span> DSCD observations, and the measurement uncertainties. Valid profiles are selected from all the possible profiles according to the cost function, and the optimal solution is defined as the weighted mean of all the valid profiles. A comprehensive error analysis is performed to better estimate the total uncertainty. Based on the assumption that the lookup table covers all possible profiles under clear-sky conditions, we determined a set of <span class="inline-formula">O<sub>4</sub></span> DSCD scaling factors for different elevation angles and wavelengths. The profiles retrieved from synthetic measurement data can reproduce the synthetic profile. The results also show that the retrieval is insensitive to measurement noise, indicating the retrieval is robust and stable. The aerosol optical depths (AODs) retrieved from the long-term measurements were compared to coinciding and co-located sun photometer observations. High correlation coefficients (<span class="inline-formula"><i>R</i></span>) of 0.733 and 0.798 are found for measurements at 360 and 477&thinsp;nm, respectively. However, especially in summer, the sun photometer AODs are systematically higher than the MAX-DOAS retrievals by a factor of <span class="inline-formula">∼2</span>. The discrepancy might be related to the limited measurement range of the MAX-DOAS and is probably also related to the decreased sensitivity of the MAX-DOAS measurements at higher altitudes. The MAX-DOAS measurements indicate the aerosol extinction decreases with increasing altitude during all seasons, which agrees with the co-located ceilometer measurements. Our results also show maximum AOD and maximum Ångström exponent in summer, which is consistent with observations at an AERONET station located <span class="inline-formula">∼43</span>&thinsp;km from the UFS.</p>
first_indexed 2024-12-14T04:33:28Z
format Article
id doaj.art-639e16f52ce3425083fbaef3684bb9bf
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1867-1381
1867-8548
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-14T04:33:28Z
publishDate 2020-04-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
spelling doaj.art-639e16f52ce3425083fbaef3684bb9bf2022-12-21T23:17:02ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482020-04-01131835186610.5194/amt-13-1835-2020A multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy aerosol profile retrieval algorithm for high-altitude measurements: application to measurements at Schneefernerhaus (UFS), GermanyZ. Wang0Z. Wang1K. L. Chan2K.-P. Heue3A. Doicu4T. Wagner5R. Holla6M. Wiegner7Remote Sensing Technology Institute, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, GermanyFaculty of Civil, Geo and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, GermanyRemote Sensing Technology Institute, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, GermanyRemote Sensing Technology Institute, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, GermanyRemote Sensing Technology Institute, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, GermanyMax Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, GermanyGerman Meteorological Office (DWD), Hohenpeißenberg, GermanyMeteorological Institute, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany<p>We present a new aerosol extinction profile retrieval algorithm for multi-axis differential optical absorption spectrometer (MAX-DOAS) measurements at high-altitude sites. The algorithm is based on the lookup table method. It is applied to retrieve aerosol extinction profiles from the long-term MAX-DOAS measurements (February 2012 to February 2016) at the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus (UFS), Germany (47.417<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>&thinsp;N, 10.980<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>&thinsp;E), which is located near the summit of Zugspitze at an altitude of 2650&thinsp;m. The lookup table consists of simulated <span class="inline-formula">O<sub>4</sub></span> differential slant column densities (DSCDs) corresponding to numerous possible aerosol extinction profiles. The sensitivities of <span class="inline-formula">O<sub>4</sub></span> absorption to several parameters were investigated for the design and parameterization of the lookup table. In the retrieval, simulated <span class="inline-formula">O<sub>4</sub></span> DSCDs for each possible profile are derived by interpolating the lookup table to the observation geometries. The cost functions are calculated for each aerosol profile in the lookup table based on the simulated <span class="inline-formula">O<sub>4</sub></span> DSCDs, the <span class="inline-formula">O<sub>4</sub></span> DSCD observations, and the measurement uncertainties. Valid profiles are selected from all the possible profiles according to the cost function, and the optimal solution is defined as the weighted mean of all the valid profiles. A comprehensive error analysis is performed to better estimate the total uncertainty. Based on the assumption that the lookup table covers all possible profiles under clear-sky conditions, we determined a set of <span class="inline-formula">O<sub>4</sub></span> DSCD scaling factors for different elevation angles and wavelengths. The profiles retrieved from synthetic measurement data can reproduce the synthetic profile. The results also show that the retrieval is insensitive to measurement noise, indicating the retrieval is robust and stable. The aerosol optical depths (AODs) retrieved from the long-term measurements were compared to coinciding and co-located sun photometer observations. High correlation coefficients (<span class="inline-formula"><i>R</i></span>) of 0.733 and 0.798 are found for measurements at 360 and 477&thinsp;nm, respectively. However, especially in summer, the sun photometer AODs are systematically higher than the MAX-DOAS retrievals by a factor of <span class="inline-formula">∼2</span>. The discrepancy might be related to the limited measurement range of the MAX-DOAS and is probably also related to the decreased sensitivity of the MAX-DOAS measurements at higher altitudes. The MAX-DOAS measurements indicate the aerosol extinction decreases with increasing altitude during all seasons, which agrees with the co-located ceilometer measurements. Our results also show maximum AOD and maximum Ångström exponent in summer, which is consistent with observations at an AERONET station located <span class="inline-formula">∼43</span>&thinsp;km from the UFS.</p>https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/13/1835/2020/amt-13-1835-2020.pdf
spellingShingle Z. Wang
Z. Wang
K. L. Chan
K.-P. Heue
A. Doicu
T. Wagner
R. Holla
M. Wiegner
A multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy aerosol profile retrieval algorithm for high-altitude measurements: application to measurements at Schneefernerhaus (UFS), Germany
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
title A multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy aerosol profile retrieval algorithm for high-altitude measurements: application to measurements at Schneefernerhaus (UFS), Germany
title_full A multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy aerosol profile retrieval algorithm for high-altitude measurements: application to measurements at Schneefernerhaus (UFS), Germany
title_fullStr A multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy aerosol profile retrieval algorithm for high-altitude measurements: application to measurements at Schneefernerhaus (UFS), Germany
title_full_unstemmed A multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy aerosol profile retrieval algorithm for high-altitude measurements: application to measurements at Schneefernerhaus (UFS), Germany
title_short A multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy aerosol profile retrieval algorithm for high-altitude measurements: application to measurements at Schneefernerhaus (UFS), Germany
title_sort multi axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy aerosol profile retrieval algorithm for high altitude measurements application to measurements at schneefernerhaus ufs germany
url https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/13/1835/2020/amt-13-1835-2020.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT zwang amultiaxisdifferentialopticalabsorptionspectroscopyaerosolprofileretrievalalgorithmforhighaltitudemeasurementsapplicationtomeasurementsatschneefernerhausufsgermany
AT zwang amultiaxisdifferentialopticalabsorptionspectroscopyaerosolprofileretrievalalgorithmforhighaltitudemeasurementsapplicationtomeasurementsatschneefernerhausufsgermany
AT klchan amultiaxisdifferentialopticalabsorptionspectroscopyaerosolprofileretrievalalgorithmforhighaltitudemeasurementsapplicationtomeasurementsatschneefernerhausufsgermany
AT kpheue amultiaxisdifferentialopticalabsorptionspectroscopyaerosolprofileretrievalalgorithmforhighaltitudemeasurementsapplicationtomeasurementsatschneefernerhausufsgermany
AT adoicu amultiaxisdifferentialopticalabsorptionspectroscopyaerosolprofileretrievalalgorithmforhighaltitudemeasurementsapplicationtomeasurementsatschneefernerhausufsgermany
AT twagner amultiaxisdifferentialopticalabsorptionspectroscopyaerosolprofileretrievalalgorithmforhighaltitudemeasurementsapplicationtomeasurementsatschneefernerhausufsgermany
AT rholla amultiaxisdifferentialopticalabsorptionspectroscopyaerosolprofileretrievalalgorithmforhighaltitudemeasurementsapplicationtomeasurementsatschneefernerhausufsgermany
AT mwiegner amultiaxisdifferentialopticalabsorptionspectroscopyaerosolprofileretrievalalgorithmforhighaltitudemeasurementsapplicationtomeasurementsatschneefernerhausufsgermany
AT zwang multiaxisdifferentialopticalabsorptionspectroscopyaerosolprofileretrievalalgorithmforhighaltitudemeasurementsapplicationtomeasurementsatschneefernerhausufsgermany
AT zwang multiaxisdifferentialopticalabsorptionspectroscopyaerosolprofileretrievalalgorithmforhighaltitudemeasurementsapplicationtomeasurementsatschneefernerhausufsgermany
AT klchan multiaxisdifferentialopticalabsorptionspectroscopyaerosolprofileretrievalalgorithmforhighaltitudemeasurementsapplicationtomeasurementsatschneefernerhausufsgermany
AT kpheue multiaxisdifferentialopticalabsorptionspectroscopyaerosolprofileretrievalalgorithmforhighaltitudemeasurementsapplicationtomeasurementsatschneefernerhausufsgermany
AT adoicu multiaxisdifferentialopticalabsorptionspectroscopyaerosolprofileretrievalalgorithmforhighaltitudemeasurementsapplicationtomeasurementsatschneefernerhausufsgermany
AT twagner multiaxisdifferentialopticalabsorptionspectroscopyaerosolprofileretrievalalgorithmforhighaltitudemeasurementsapplicationtomeasurementsatschneefernerhausufsgermany
AT rholla multiaxisdifferentialopticalabsorptionspectroscopyaerosolprofileretrievalalgorithmforhighaltitudemeasurementsapplicationtomeasurementsatschneefernerhausufsgermany
AT mwiegner multiaxisdifferentialopticalabsorptionspectroscopyaerosolprofileretrievalalgorithmforhighaltitudemeasurementsapplicationtomeasurementsatschneefernerhausufsgermany