Aerosol radiative effects in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectral ranges using long-term aerosol data series over the Iberian Peninsula
A better understanding of aerosol radiative properties is a crucial challenge for climate change studies. This study aims at providing a complete characterization of aerosol radiative effects in different spectral ranges within the shortwave (SW) solar spectrum. For this purpose, long-term data sets...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2014-12-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/13497/2014/acp-14-13497-2014.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818503509552660480 |
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| author | D. Mateos M. Antón C. Toledano V. E. Cachorro L. Alados-Arboledas M. Sorribas M. J. Costa J. M. Baldasano |
| author_facet | D. Mateos M. Antón C. Toledano V. E. Cachorro L. Alados-Arboledas M. Sorribas M. J. Costa J. M. Baldasano |
| author_sort | D. Mateos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A better understanding of aerosol radiative properties is a crucial
challenge for climate change studies. This study aims at providing a
complete characterization of aerosol radiative effects in different spectral
ranges within the shortwave (SW) solar spectrum. For this purpose, long-term
data sets of aerosol properties from six AERONET stations located in the
Iberian Peninsula (southwestern Europe) have been analyzed in terms of
climatological characterization and inter-annual changes. Aerosol
information was used as input for the libRadtran model in order to determine
the aerosol radiative effect (ARE) at the surface in the ultraviolet
(ARE<sub>UV</sub>), visible (ARE<sub>VIS</sub>), near-infrared (ARE<sub>NIR</sub>), and the
entire SW range (ARE<sub>SW</sub>) under cloud-free conditions. Over the whole
Iberian Peninsula, yearly aerosol radiative effects in the different
spectral ranges were found to be −1.1 < ARE<sub>UV</sub> < −0.7,
−5.7 < ARE<sub>VIS</sub> < −3.5,
−2.6 < ARE<sub>NIR</sub> < −1.6, and −8.8 < ARE<sub>SW</sub> < −5.7 (in W m<sup>−2</sup>).
Monthly means of ARE showed a seasonal pattern with larger values
in spring and summer. The aerosol forcing efficiency (AFE), ARE per unit of
aerosol optical depth, has also been evaluated in the four spectral ranges.
AFE exhibited a dependence on single scattering albedo as well as a
weaker one on the Ångström exponent. AFE is larger (in absolute
value) for small and absorbing particles. The contributions of the UV, VIS,
and NIR ranges to the SW efficiency varied with the aerosol types. The
predominant aerosol size determined the fractions AFE<sub>VIS</sub>/AFE<sub>SW</sub> and
AFE<sub>NIR</sub>/AFE<sub>SW</sub>. The AFE<sub>VIS</sub> was the dominant contributor for all
aerosol types, although non-absorbing large particles caused more even
contribution of VIS and NIR intervals. The AFE<sub>UV</sub> / AFE<sub>SW</sub> ratio
showed a higher value in the case of absorbing fine particles. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T21:24:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9bad643283f640cf9d2b4169f7d68771 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T21:24:56Z |
| publishDate | 2014-12-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-9bad643283f640cf9d2b4169f7d687712022-12-22T01:33:01ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242014-12-011424134971351410.5194/acp-14-13497-2014Aerosol radiative effects in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectral ranges using long-term aerosol data series over the Iberian PeninsulaD. Mateos0M. Antón1C. Toledano2V. E. Cachorro3L. Alados-Arboledas4M. Sorribas5M. J. Costa6J. M. Baldasano7Departamento de Física, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, SpainDepartamento de Física, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, SpainGrupo de Óptica Atmosférica, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, SpainGrupo de Óptica Atmosférica, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, SpainDepartamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Granada, Granada, SpainDepartamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Granada, Granada, SpainÉvora Geophysics Centre and Dep. Physics, University of Évora, Évora, PortugalUniversidad Politécnica de Cataluña, Barcelona, SpainA better understanding of aerosol radiative properties is a crucial challenge for climate change studies. This study aims at providing a complete characterization of aerosol radiative effects in different spectral ranges within the shortwave (SW) solar spectrum. For this purpose, long-term data sets of aerosol properties from six AERONET stations located in the Iberian Peninsula (southwestern Europe) have been analyzed in terms of climatological characterization and inter-annual changes. Aerosol information was used as input for the libRadtran model in order to determine the aerosol radiative effect (ARE) at the surface in the ultraviolet (ARE<sub>UV</sub>), visible (ARE<sub>VIS</sub>), near-infrared (ARE<sub>NIR</sub>), and the entire SW range (ARE<sub>SW</sub>) under cloud-free conditions. Over the whole Iberian Peninsula, yearly aerosol radiative effects in the different spectral ranges were found to be −1.1 < ARE<sub>UV</sub> < −0.7, −5.7 < ARE<sub>VIS</sub> < −3.5, −2.6 < ARE<sub>NIR</sub> < −1.6, and −8.8 < ARE<sub>SW</sub> < −5.7 (in W m<sup>−2</sup>). Monthly means of ARE showed a seasonal pattern with larger values in spring and summer. The aerosol forcing efficiency (AFE), ARE per unit of aerosol optical depth, has also been evaluated in the four spectral ranges. AFE exhibited a dependence on single scattering albedo as well as a weaker one on the Ångström exponent. AFE is larger (in absolute value) for small and absorbing particles. The contributions of the UV, VIS, and NIR ranges to the SW efficiency varied with the aerosol types. The predominant aerosol size determined the fractions AFE<sub>VIS</sub>/AFE<sub>SW</sub> and AFE<sub>NIR</sub>/AFE<sub>SW</sub>. The AFE<sub>VIS</sub> was the dominant contributor for all aerosol types, although non-absorbing large particles caused more even contribution of VIS and NIR intervals. The AFE<sub>UV</sub> / AFE<sub>SW</sub> ratio showed a higher value in the case of absorbing fine particles.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/13497/2014/acp-14-13497-2014.pdf |
| spellingShingle | D. Mateos M. Antón C. Toledano V. E. Cachorro L. Alados-Arboledas M. Sorribas M. J. Costa J. M. Baldasano Aerosol radiative effects in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectral ranges using long-term aerosol data series over the Iberian Peninsula Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Aerosol radiative effects in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectral ranges using long-term aerosol data series over the Iberian Peninsula |
| title_full | Aerosol radiative effects in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectral ranges using long-term aerosol data series over the Iberian Peninsula |
| title_fullStr | Aerosol radiative effects in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectral ranges using long-term aerosol data series over the Iberian Peninsula |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aerosol radiative effects in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectral ranges using long-term aerosol data series over the Iberian Peninsula |
| title_short | Aerosol radiative effects in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectral ranges using long-term aerosol data series over the Iberian Peninsula |
| title_sort | aerosol radiative effects in the ultraviolet visible and near infrared spectral ranges using long term aerosol data series over the iberian peninsula |
| url | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/13497/2014/acp-14-13497-2014.pdf |
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