Seasonal variations of aerosol optical properties, vertical distribution and associated radiative effects in the Yangtze Delta Region of China

Journal Article · Thu Feb 09 04:00:00 EST 2012 · Journal of Geophysical Research. D. (Atmospheres)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JD016490· OSTI ID:1036407

Liu, Jianjun; Zheng, Youfei; Li, Zhanqing; Flynn, Connor J; Cribb, Maureen

Four years of columnar aerosol particle optical properties (2006 to 2009) and one year database worth of aerosol particle vertical profile of 527 nm extinction coefficient (June 2008 to May 2009) are analyzed at Taihu in the central Yangtze Delta region in eastern China. Seasonal variations of aerosol optical properties, vertical distribution, and influence on shortwave radiation and heating rates were investigated. Multiyear variations of aerosol optical depths (AOD), Angstrom exponents, single scattering albedo (SSA) and asymmetry factor (ASY) are analyzed, together with the vertical profile of aerosol extinction. AOD is largest in summer and smallest in winter. SSAs exhibit weak seasonal variation with the smallest values occurring during winter and the largest during summer. The vast majority of aerosol particles are below 2 km, and about 62%, 67%, 67% and 83% are confined to below 1 km in spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectively. Five-day back trajectory analyses show that the some aerosols aloft are traced back to northern/northwestern China, as far as Mongolia and Siberia, in spring, autumn and winter. The presence of dust aerosols were identified based on the linear depolarization measurements together with other information (i.e., back trajectory, precipitation, aerosol index). Dust strongly impacts the vertical particle distribution in spring and autumn, with much smaller effects in winter. The annual mean aerosol direct shortwave radiative forcing (efficiency) at the bottom, top and within the atmosphere are -34.8 {+-} 9.1 (-54.4 {+-} 5.3), -8.2 {+-} 4.8 (-13.1 {+-} 1.5) and 26.7 {+-} 9.4 (41.3 {+-} 4.6) W/m{sup 2} (Wm{sup -2} T{sup -1}), respectively. The mean reduction in direct and diffuse radiation reaching surface amount to 109.2 {+-} 49.4 and 66.8 {+-} 33.3 W/m{sup 2}, respectively. Aerosols significantly alter the vertical profile of solar heating, with great implications for atmospheric stability and dynamics within the lower troposphere.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1036407
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-83276; KP1704010
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research. D. (Atmospheres), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. D. (Atmospheres) Vol. 117; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
AEROSOLS
ALBEDO
ASYMMETRY
CHINA
DEPOLARIZATION
DISTRIBUTION
DUSTS
EFFICIENCY
HEATING RATE
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PRECIPITATION
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SOLAR HEATING
STABILITY
Seasonal variations
TROPOSPHERE
Yangtze Delta Region of China
aerosol optical properties
associated radiative effects
vertical distribution