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Title:Aircraft vertical profiles during summertime regional and Saharan dust scenarios over the north-western Mediterranean basin: aerosol optical and physical properties
Authors:ID Yus-Díez, Jesús, 1Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC) (Author)
ID Ealo, Marina, 1Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC) (Author)
ID Pandolfi, Marco, 1Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC) (Author)
ID Perez, Noemi, 1Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC) (Author)
ID Titos, Gloria, 3Andalusian Inter-University Institute for Earth System Research, University of Granada (Author)
ID Močnik, Griša, University of Nova Gorica (Author)
ID Querol, Xavier, 1Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC) (Author)
ID Alastuey, A., 1Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC) (Author)
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Language:English
Work type:Not categorized
Typology:1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:UNG - University of Nova Gorica
Abstract:Accurate measurements of the horizontal and vertical distribution of atmospheric aerosol particle optical properties are key for a better understanding of their impact on the climate. Here we present the results of a measurement campaign based on instrumented flights over north-eastern Spain. We measured vertical profiles of size-segregated atmospheric particulate matter (PM) mass concentrations and multi-wavelength scattering and absorption coefficients in the western Mediterranean basin (WMB). The campaign took place during typical summer conditions, characterized by the development of a vertical multi-layer structure, under both summer regional pollution episodes (REGs) and Saharan dust events (SDEs). REG patterns in the region form under high insolation and scarce precipitation in summer, favouring layering of highly aged fine-PM strata in the lower few kma.s.l. The REG scenario prevailed during the entire measurement campaign. Additionally, African dust outbreaks and plumes from northern African wildfires influenced the study area. The vertical profiles of climate-relevant intensive optical parameters such as single-scattering albedo (SSA); the asymmetry parameter (g); scattering, absorption and SSA Ångström exponents (SAE, AAE and SSAAE); and PM mass scattering and absorption cross sections (MSC and MAC) were derived from the measurements. Moreover, we compared the aircraft measurements with those performed at two GAW–ACTRIS (Global Atmosphere Watch–Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases) surface measurement stations located in north-eastern Spain, namely Montseny (MSY; regional background) and Montsec d'Ares (MSA; remote site). Airborne in situ measurements and ceilometer ground-based remote measurements identified aerosol air masses at altitudes up to more than 3.5 kma.s.l. The vertical profiles of the optical properties markedly changed according to the prevailing atmospheric scenarios. During SDE the SAE was low along the profiles, reaching values < 1.0 in the dust layers. Correspondingly, SSAAE was negative, and AAE reached values up to 2.0–2.5, as a consequence of the UV absorption increased by the presence of the coarse dust particles. During REG, the SAE increased to > 2.0, and the asymmetry parameter g was rather low (0.5–0.6) due to the prevalence of fine PM, which was characterized by an AAE close to 1.0, suggesting a fossil fuel combustion origin. During REG, some of the layers featured larger AAE (> 1.5), relatively low SSA at 525 nm (< 0.85) and high MSC (> 9 m2 g−1) and were associated with the influence of PM from wildfires. Overall, the SSA and MSC near the ground ranged around 0.85 and 3 m2 g−1, respectively, and increased at higher altitudes, reaching values above 0.95 and up to 9 m2 g−1. The PM, MSC and MAC were on average larger during REG compared to SDE due to the larger scattering and absorption efficiency of fine PM compared with dust. The SSA and MSC had quite similar vertical profiles and often both increased with height indicating the progressive shift toward PM with a larger scattering efficiency with altitude. This study contributes to our understanding of regional-aerosol vertical distribution and optical properties in the WMB, and the results will be useful for improving future climate projections and remote sensing or satellite retrieval algorithms.
Keywords:aerosol, climate change, Saharan dust, black carbon, aerosol absorption, aerosol scattering
Publication version:Version of Record
Year of publishing:2021
Number of pages:431-455
Numbering:2021, 21
PID:20.500.12556/RUNG-6192 New window
COBISS.SI-ID:47053571 New window
DOI:10.5194/acp-21-431-2021 New window
NUK URN:URN:SI:UNG:REP:TOOK5TRL
Publication date in RUNG:14.01.2021
Views:2344
Downloads:0
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Record is a part of a journal

Title:Atmospheric Chemisry and Physics
Shortened title:Atmos. Chem. Phys.
Publisher:Copernicus / EGU
Year of publishing:2021
ISSN:1680-7316

Licences

License:CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Link:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Description:This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
Licensing start date:14.01.2021

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