Profiling aerosol optical, microphysical and hygroscopic properties in ambient conditions by combining in situ and remote sensing
We present the In situ/Remote sensing aerosol Retrieval Algorithm (IRRA) that combines airborne in situ and lidar remote sensing data to retrieve vertical profiles of ambient aerosol optical, microphysical and hygroscopic properties, employing the ISORROPIA II model for acquiring the particle hygros...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/10/83/2017/amt-10-83-2017.pdf |
| Summary: | We present the In situ/Remote sensing aerosol
Retrieval Algorithm (IRRA) that combines airborne in situ and lidar remote
sensing data to retrieve vertical profiles of ambient aerosol optical,
microphysical and hygroscopic properties, employing the ISORROPIA II model for acquiring the particle
hygroscopic growth. Here we apply the algorithm on data collected from the
Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) BAe-146 research
aircraft during the ACEMED campaign in the Eastern Mediterranean. Vertical
profiles of aerosol microphysical properties have been derived successfully
for an aged smoke plume near the city of Thessaloniki with aerosol optical depth of ∼ 0.4 at 532 nm,
single scattering albedos of ∼ 0.9–0.95 at 550 nm and typical lidar
ratios for smoke of ∼ 60–80 sr at 532 nm. IRRA retrieves highly
hydrated particles above land, with 55 and 80 % water volume content for
ambient relative humidity of 80 and 90 %, respectively. The proposed
methodology is highly advantageous for aerosol characterization in humid
conditions and can find valuable applications in aerosol–cloud interaction
schemes. Moreover, it can be used for the validation of active space-borne
sensors, as is demonstrated here for the case of CALIPSO. |
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| ISSN: | 1867-1381 1867-8548 |