Increase in background stratospheric aerosol observed with lidar at Mauna Loa Observatory and Boulder, Colorado - article no. L15808

Journal Article · Sat Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Geophysical Research Letters

OSTI ID:21222433

Hofmann, D; Barnes, J; O'Neill, M; Trudeau, M; Neely, R ^[1]

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1. NOAA, Boulder, CO (United States)

The stratospheric aerosol layer has been monitored with lidars at Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii and Boulder in Colorado since 1975 and 2000, respectively. Following the Pinatubo volcanic eruption in June 1991, the global stratosphere has not been perturbed by a major volcanic eruption providing an unprecedented opportunity to study the background aerosol. Since about 2000, an increase of 4-7% per year in the aerosol backscatter in the altitude range 20-30 km has been detected at both Mauna Loa and Boulder. This increase is superimposed on a seasonal cycle with a winter maximum that is modulated by the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in tropical winds. Of the three major causes for a stratospheric aerosol increase: volcanic emissions to the stratosphere, increased tropical upwelling, and an increase in anthropogenic sulfur gas emissions in the troposphere, it appears that a large increase in coal burning since 2002, mainly in China, is the likely source of sulfur dioxide that ultimately ends up as the sulfate aerosol responsible for the increased backscatter from the stratospheric aerosol layer. The results are consistent with 0.6-0.8% of tropospheric sulfur entering the stratosphere.

• OSTI ID: 21222433
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Vol. 36; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
BACKSCATTERING
CHINA
EMISSION
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
MONITORING
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
STRATOSPHERE
SULFATES
SULFUR DIOXIDE
VOLCANOES