Optical properties of salt aerosols with and without inclusions as a function of relative humidity

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret E. Greenslade ◽  
Alexis R. Attwood ◽  
Tyler Galpin
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Relative Humidity

First global assessment of modelled aerosol hygroscopicity in the context of other aerosol optical properties

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Ángeles Burgos Simón ◽  
Elisabeth Andrews ◽  
Gloria Titos ◽  
Angela Benedetti ◽  
Huisheng Bian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Light Scattering ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Chem Phys ◽  
Earth System ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
System Models ◽  
Earth System Models

<p>The particle hygroscopic growth impacts the optical properties of aerosols and, in turn, affects the aerosol-radiation interaction and calculation of the Earth’s radiative balance. The dependence of particle light scattering on relative humidity (RH) can be described by the scattering enhancement factor f(RH), defined as the ratio between the particle light scattering coefficient at a given RH divided by its dry value.</p><p>The first effort of the AeroCom Phase III – INSITU experiment was to develop an observational dataset of scattering enhancement values at 26 sites to study the uptake of water by atmospheric aerosols, and evaluate f(RH) globally (Burgos et al., 2019). Model outputs from 10 Earth System Models (CAM, CAM-ATRAS, CAM-Oslo, GEOS-Chem, GEOS-GOCART, MERRAero, TM5, OsloCTM3, IFS-AER, and ECMWF) were then evaluated against this in-situ dataset. Building on these results, we investigate f(RH) in the context of other aerosol optical and chemical properties, making use of the same 10 Earth System Models (ESMs) and in-situ measurements as in Burgos et al. (2020) and Titos et al. (2021).</p><p>Given the difficulties of deploying and maintaining instrumentation for long-term, accurate and comprehensive f(RH) observations, it is desirable to find an observational proxy for f(RH). This observation-based proxy would also need to be reproduced in modelling space. Our aim here is to evaluate how ESMs currently represent the relationship between f(RH), scattering Ångström exponent (SAE), and single scattering albedo (SSA). This work helps to identify current challenges in modelling water-uptake by aerosols and their impact on aerosol optical properties within Earth system models.</p><p>We start by analyzing the behavior of SSA with RH, finding the expected increase with RH for all site types and models. Then, we analyze the three variables together (f(RH)-SSA-SAE relationship). Results show that hygroscopic particles tend to be bigger and scatter more than non-hygroscopic small particles, though variability within models is noticeable. This relationship can be further studied by relating SAE to model chemistry, by selecting those grid points dominated by a single chemical component (mass mixing ratios > 90%). Finally, we analyze model performance at three specific sites representing different aerosol types: Arctic, marine and rural. At these sites, the model data can be exactly temporally and spatially collocated with the observations, which should help to identify the models which exhibit better agreement with measurements and for which aerosol type.</p><p> </p><p>Burgos, M.A. et al.: A global view on the effect of water uptake on aerosol particle light scattering. Sci Data 6, 157. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-019-0158-7, 2019.</p><p>Burgos, M.A. et al.: A global model–measurement evaluation of particle light scattering coefficients at elevated relative humidity, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 10231–10258, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-10231-2020, 2020.</p><p>Titos, G. et al.: A global study of hygroscopicity-driven light scattering enhancement in the context of other in-situ aerosol optical properties, Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss. [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2020-1250, in review, 2020.</p>

scholarly journals Influence of relative humidity upon pollution and dust during ACE-Asia: Size distributions and implications for optical properties

2006 ◽  
Vol 111 (D6) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Howell ◽  
A. D. Clarke ◽  
Y. Shinozuka ◽  
V. Kapustin ◽  
C. S. McNaughton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Size Distributions

Multi-model evaluation of aerosol optical properties in the AeroCom phase III Control experiment, using ground and space based observations from AERONET, MODIS, AATSR and a merged satellite product as well as surface in-situ observations from GAW sites

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Gliß ◽  
Augustin Mortier ◽  
Michael Schulz ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Control Experiment ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Absorption Coefficients ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Extinction Coefficients

<p>Within the framework of the AeroCom (Aerosol Comparisons between Observations and Models) initiative, the present day modelling of aerosol optical properties has been assessed using simulated data representative for the year 2010, from 14 global aerosol models participating in the Phase III Control experiment. The model versions are close or equal to those used for CMIP6 and AerChemMIP and inform also on bias in state of the art Earth-System-Models (ESMs).<br>Modelled column optical depths (total, fine and coarse mode AOD) and Angstrom Exponents (AE) were compared both with ground based observations from the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET, version 3) and space based observations from the AATSR instrument. In addition, the modelled AODs were compared with MODIS (Aqua and Terra) data and a satellite AOD data-set (MERGED-FMI) merged from 12 different individual AOD products. Furthermore, for the first time, the modelled near surface scattering (under dry conditions) and absorption coefficients were evaluated against measurements made at low relative humidity at surface in-situ GAW sites. <br>The AeroCom MEDIAN and most of the participating models underestimate the optical properties investigated, relative to remote sensing observations. AERONET AOD is underestimated by 21%+/-17%. Against satellite data, the model AOD biases range from -38% (MODIS-terra) to -17% (MERGED-FMI). Correlation coefficients of model AODs with AERONET, MERGED-FMI and AATSR-SU are high (0.8-0.9) and slightly lower against the two MODIS data-sets (0.6-0.8). Investigation of fine and coarse AODs from the MEDIAN model reveals biases of -10%+/-20% and -41%+/-29% against AERONET and -13% and -24% against AATSR-SU, respectively. The differences in model bias against AERONET and AATSR-SU are in agreement with the established bias of AATSR against AERONET. These results indicate that most of the AOD bias is due to missing coarse AOD in the regions covered by these observations. Underestimates are also found when comparing the models against the surface GAW observations, showing AeroCom MEDIAN mean bias and inter-model variation of -44%+/-22% and -32%+/-34% for scattering and absorption coefficients, respectively. Dry scattering shows higher underestimation than AOD at ambient relative humidity and is in agreement with recent findings that suggest that models tend to overestimate scattering enhancement due to hygroscopic growth. <br>Considerable diversity is found among the models in the simulated near surface absorption coefficients, particularly in regions associated with dust (e.g. Sahara, Tibet), biomass burning (e.g. Amazonia, Central Australia) and biogenic emissions (e.g. Amazonia). Regions associated with high anthropogenic BC emissions such as China and India exhibit comparatively good agreement for all models. Evaluation of modelled column AEs shows an underestimation of 9%+/-24% against AERONET and -21% against AATSR-SU. This suggests that models tend to overestimate particle size, with implications for lifetime and radiative transfer calculations. An investigation of modelled emissions, burdens and lifetimes, mass-specific-extinction coefficients (MECs) and optical depths (ODs) for each species and model reveals considerable diversity in most of these parameters. Inter-model spread of aerosol species lifetime appears to be similar to that of mass extinction coefficients, suggesting that AOD uncertainties are still associated to a broad spectrum of parameterised aerosol processes.</p>

scholarly journals A complete parameterisation of the relative humidity and wavelength dependence of the refractive index of hygroscopic inorganic aerosol particles

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (16) ◽  
pp. 9837-9851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael I. Cotterell ◽  
Rose E. Willoughby ◽  
Bryan R. Bzdek ◽  
Andrew J. Orr-Ewing ◽  
Jonathan P. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Refractive Index ◽  
Optical Properties ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Comprehensive Treatment ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy ◽  
Cavity Ring Down

Abstract. Calculations of aerosol radiative forcing require knowledge of wavelength-dependent aerosol optical properties, such as single-scattering albedo. These aerosol optical properties can be calculated using Mie theory from knowledge of the key microphysical properties of particle size and refractive index, assuming that atmospheric particles are well-approximated to be spherical and homogeneous. We provide refractive index determinations for aqueous aerosol particles containing the key atmospherically relevant inorganic solutes of NaCl, NaNO3, (NH4)2SO4, NH4HSO4 and Na2SO4, reporting the refractive index variation with both wavelength (400–650 nm) and relative humidity (from 100 % to the efflorescence value of the salt). The accurate and precise retrieval of refractive index is performed using single-particle cavity ring-down spectroscopy. This approach involves probing a single aerosol particle confined in a Bessel laser beam optical trap through a combination of extinction measurements using cavity ring-down spectroscopy and elastic light-scattering measurements. Further, we assess the accuracy of these refractive index measurements, comparing our data with previously reported data sets from different measurement techniques but at a single wavelength. Finally, we provide a Cauchy dispersion model that parameterises refractive index measurements in terms of both wavelength and relative humidity. Our parameterisations should provide useful information to researchers requiring an accurate and comprehensive treatment of the wavelength and relative humidity dependence of refractive index for the inorganic component of atmospheric aerosol.

scholarly journals A Complete Parameterization of the Relative Humidity and Wavelength Dependence of the Refractive Index of Hygroscopic Inorganic Aerosol Particles

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael I. Cotterell ◽  
Rose E. Willoughby ◽  
Bryan R. Bzdek ◽  
Andrew J. Orr-Ewing ◽  
Jonathan P. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Refractive Index ◽  
Optical Properties ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Comprehensive Treatment ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy ◽  
Cavity Ring Down

Abstract. Calculations of aerosol radiative forcing require knowledge of wavelength-dependent aerosol optical properties, such as single scattering albedo. These aerosol optical properties can be calculated using Mie theory from knowledge of the key microphysical properties of particle size and refractive index, assuming that atmospheric particles are well-approximated to be spherical and homogeneous. We provide refractive index determinations for aqueous aerosol particles containing the key atmospherically relevant inorganic solutes of NaCl, NaNO3, (NH4)2SO4, NH4HSO4 and Na2SO4, reporting the refractive index variation with both wavelength (400–650 nm) and relative humidity (from 100 % to the efflorescence value of the salt). The accurate and precise retrieval of refractive index is performed using single particle cavity ring-down spectroscopy. This approach involves probing a single aerosol particle confined in a Bessel laser beam optical trap through a combination of extinction measurements by cavity ring-down spectroscopy and elastic light scattering measurements. Further, we assess the accuracy of these refractive index measurements, comparing our data with previously reported data sets from different measurement techniques but at a single wavelength. Finally, we provide a Cauchy dispersion model that parameterizes refractive index measurements in terms of both wavelength and relative humidity. Our parameterizations should provide useful information to researchers requiring an accurate and comprehensive treatment of the wavelength and relative humidity dependence of the inorganic component of atmospheric aerosol.

In situ aerosol characterization at Cape Verde Part 2: Parametrization of relative humidity- and wavelength-dependent aerosol optical properties

Tellus B ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Schladitz ◽  
Thomas Müller ◽  
Stephan Nordmann ◽  
Matthias Tesche ◽  
Silke Groß ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Cape Verde ◽  
Aerosol Optical Properties ◽  
Aerosol Characterization

scholarly journals The performance of Aeolus in heterogeneous atmospheric conditions using high-resolution radiosonde data

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 1393-1455
Author(s):  
X. J. Sun ◽  
R. W. Zhang ◽  
G. J. Marseille ◽  
A. Stoffelen ◽  
D. Donovan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Error Variance ◽  
Radiosonde Data ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Wind Profiles ◽  
Height Assignment ◽  
Aerosol Backscatter

Abstract. The ESA Aeolus mission aims to measure wind profiles from space. In preparation for launch we aim to assess the expected bias in retrieved winds from the Mie and Rayleigh channel signals induced by atmospheric heterogeneity. Observation biases are known to be detrimental when gone undetected in Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP). Aeolus processing equipment should therefore be prepared to detect heterogeneous atmospheric scenes and take measures, e.g., reject or reduce the weight of observations when used in NWP. Radiosondes provide the wind vector at about 10 m resolution. We present a method to simulate co-located cloud and aerosol optical properties from radiosonde observations. We show that cloud layers can be detected along the radiosonde path from radiosonde measured relative humidity and temperature. A parameterization for aerosol backscatter and extinction along the radiosonde path is presented based on a climatological aerosol backscatter profile and radiosonde relative humidity. The resulting high-resolution database of atmospheric wind and optical properties serves as input for Aeolus wind simulations. It is shown that Aeolus wind error variance grows quadratically with bin size and the wind-shear over the bin. Strong scattering aerosol or cloud layers may cause biases exceeding 1ms−1 for typical tropospheric conditions and 1 km Mie channel bin size, i.e., substantially larger than the mission bias requirement of 0.4 ms−1. Advanced level-2 processing of Aeolus winds including estimation of atmosphere optical properties is needed to detect regions with large heterogeneity, potentially yielding biased winds. Besides applicable for Aeolus the radiosonde database of co-located high-resolution wind and cloud information can be used for the validation of atmospheric motion wind vectors (AMV) or to correct their height assignment errors.

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