Improvement of stratospheric aerosol extinction retrieval from OMPS/LP using a new aerosol model

<p>The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite Limb Profiler (OMPS/LP) has been flying on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite since October 2011. It is designed to produce ozone and aerosol vertical profiles at  ∼ 2&thinsp;km vertical resolution over the entire sunl...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Z. Chen, P. K. Bhartia, R. Loughman, P. Colarco, M. DeLand
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2018-12-01
Series:Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Online Access:https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/11/6495/2018/amt-11-6495-2018.pdf
_version_ 1818254666619682816
author Z. Chen
P. K. Bhartia
R. Loughman
P. Colarco
M. DeLand
author_facet Z. Chen
P. K. Bhartia
R. Loughman
P. Colarco
M. DeLand
author_sort Z. Chen
collection DOAJ
description <p>The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite Limb Profiler (OMPS/LP) has been flying on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite since October 2011. It is designed to produce ozone and aerosol vertical profiles at  ∼ 2&thinsp;km vertical resolution over the entire sunlit globe. Aerosol extinction profiles are computed with Mie theory using radiances measured at 675&thinsp;nm. The operational Version 1.0 (V1.0) aerosol extinction retrieval algorithm assumes a bimodal lognormal aerosol size distribution (ASD) whose parameters were derived by combining an in situ measurement of aerosol microphysics with the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE II) aerosol extinction climatology. Internal analysis indicates that this bimodal lognormal ASD does not sufficiently explain the spectral dependence of LP-measured radiances. In this paper we describe the derivation of an improved aerosol size distribution, designated Version 1.5 (V1.5), for the LP retrieval algorithm. The new ASD uses a gamma function distribution that is derived from Community Aerosol and Radiation Model for Atmospheres (CARMA)-calculated results. A cumulative distribution fit derived from the gamma function ASD gives better agreement with CARMA results at small particle radii than bimodal or unimodal functions. The new ASD also explains the spectral dependence of LP-measured radiances better than the V1.0 ASD. We find that the impact of our choice of ASD on the retrieved extinctions varies strongly with the underlying reflectivity of the scene. Initial comparisons with collocated extinction profiles retrieved at 676&thinsp;nm from the SAGE III instrument on the International Space Station (ISS) show a significant improvement in agreement for the LP V1.5 retrievals. Zonal mean extinction profiles agree to within 10&thinsp;&thinsp;% between 19 and 29&thinsp;km, and regression fits of collocated samples show improved correlation and reduced scatter compared to the V1.0 product. This improved agreement will motivate development of more sophisticated ASDs from CARMA results that incorporate latitude, altitude and seasonal variations in aerosol properties.</p>
first_indexed 2024-12-12T16:59:36Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d0261551f9214d33aa2afca411b3fc69
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1867-1381
1867-8548
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-12T16:59:36Z
publishDate 2018-12-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
spelling doaj.art-d0261551f9214d33aa2afca411b3fc692022-12-22T00:18:10ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482018-12-01116495650910.5194/amt-11-6495-2018Improvement of stratospheric aerosol extinction retrieval from OMPS/LP using a new aerosol modelZ. Chen0P. K. Bhartia1R. Loughman2P. Colarco3M. DeLand4Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Lanham, Maryland 20706, USANASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USADepartment of Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia 23668, USANASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USAScience Systems and Applications, Inc., Lanham, Maryland 20706, USA<p>The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite Limb Profiler (OMPS/LP) has been flying on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite since October 2011. It is designed to produce ozone and aerosol vertical profiles at  ∼ 2&thinsp;km vertical resolution over the entire sunlit globe. Aerosol extinction profiles are computed with Mie theory using radiances measured at 675&thinsp;nm. The operational Version 1.0 (V1.0) aerosol extinction retrieval algorithm assumes a bimodal lognormal aerosol size distribution (ASD) whose parameters were derived by combining an in situ measurement of aerosol microphysics with the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE II) aerosol extinction climatology. Internal analysis indicates that this bimodal lognormal ASD does not sufficiently explain the spectral dependence of LP-measured radiances. In this paper we describe the derivation of an improved aerosol size distribution, designated Version 1.5 (V1.5), for the LP retrieval algorithm. The new ASD uses a gamma function distribution that is derived from Community Aerosol and Radiation Model for Atmospheres (CARMA)-calculated results. A cumulative distribution fit derived from the gamma function ASD gives better agreement with CARMA results at small particle radii than bimodal or unimodal functions. The new ASD also explains the spectral dependence of LP-measured radiances better than the V1.0 ASD. We find that the impact of our choice of ASD on the retrieved extinctions varies strongly with the underlying reflectivity of the scene. Initial comparisons with collocated extinction profiles retrieved at 676&thinsp;nm from the SAGE III instrument on the International Space Station (ISS) show a significant improvement in agreement for the LP V1.5 retrievals. Zonal mean extinction profiles agree to within 10&thinsp;&thinsp;% between 19 and 29&thinsp;km, and regression fits of collocated samples show improved correlation and reduced scatter compared to the V1.0 product. This improved agreement will motivate development of more sophisticated ASDs from CARMA results that incorporate latitude, altitude and seasonal variations in aerosol properties.</p>https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/11/6495/2018/amt-11-6495-2018.pdf
spellingShingle Z. Chen
P. K. Bhartia
R. Loughman
P. Colarco
M. DeLand
Improvement of stratospheric aerosol extinction retrieval from OMPS/LP using a new aerosol model
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
title Improvement of stratospheric aerosol extinction retrieval from OMPS/LP using a new aerosol model
title_full Improvement of stratospheric aerosol extinction retrieval from OMPS/LP using a new aerosol model
title_fullStr Improvement of stratospheric aerosol extinction retrieval from OMPS/LP using a new aerosol model
title_full_unstemmed Improvement of stratospheric aerosol extinction retrieval from OMPS/LP using a new aerosol model
title_short Improvement of stratospheric aerosol extinction retrieval from OMPS/LP using a new aerosol model
title_sort improvement of stratospheric aerosol extinction retrieval from omps lp using a new aerosol model
url https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/11/6495/2018/amt-11-6495-2018.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT zchen improvementofstratosphericaerosolextinctionretrievalfromompslpusinganewaerosolmodel
AT pkbhartia improvementofstratosphericaerosolextinctionretrievalfromompslpusinganewaerosolmodel
AT rloughman improvementofstratosphericaerosolextinctionretrievalfromompslpusinganewaerosolmodel
AT pcolarco improvementofstratosphericaerosolextinctionretrievalfromompslpusinganewaerosolmodel
AT mdeland improvementofstratosphericaerosolextinctionretrievalfromompslpusinganewaerosolmodel