Our research effort is focused on improving our understanding of aerosol properties needed for optical models for remote marine regions. This includes in-situ and vertical column optical closure and involves a redundancy of approaches to measure and model optical properties that must be self consistent. The model is based upon measured in-situ aerosol properties and will be tested and constrained by the vertically measured spectral differential optical depth of the marine boundary layer, MBL. Both measured and modeled column optical properties for the boundary layer, when added to the free-troposphere and stratospheric optical depth, will be used to establish spectral optical depth over the entire atmospheric column for comparison to and validation of satellite derived radiances (AVHRR)

Clarke, Antony D.

Porter, John N.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

/.,i_/J/_/Z- /9-7, _ 206166
FINAL REPORT for 1994-1997 on NASA NAGW-3766
Submitted November 6, 1997
Remote Marine Aerosol: A Characterization of Physical, Chemical
and Optical Properties and their Relation to Radiative transfer
in the Troposphere
Antony D. Clarke (PI)
John N. Porter (co-PI)
School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology
University of Hawaii
Honolulu, HI 96822
BACKGROUND
Recently, and because of the potential for aerosol to impact radiative transfer and
climate, concern has been expressed over the ability to properly model aerosol optical
properties on global scales. These uncertainties have prompted the creation of several optical
closure experiments throughout the world (ACE1, ACE2, TARFOX) which seek to test and
validate our ability to model the aerosol optical properties from measured aerosol properties.
One objective of these experiments is to obtain both in-situ and vertical closure of the aerosol
optical properties by comparison with various measurement methods. Modeling the aerosol
optical properties requires calculation of the scattering coefficient (with MIE theory) from the
aerosol size dependant composition. This is often limited by the uncertainty in aerosol
chemical composition as a function of size and in response to changes in relative humidity. If
these aerosol properties can be determined, and the vertical structure of aerosol and RH are
known then the total column optical properties can be calculated and compared to either in-situ
column extinction measurement and/or to satellite retrievals of optical depth in order to assess
"closure" between measured and modeled properties. Such "closure" is achieved only when
agreement is found within the uncertainties associated with the various measurement and
modeling steps inherent to this procedure and when these uncertainties are sufficiently small to
yield results of practical value.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19980214881 2020-06-16T00:05:53+00:00Z
OBJECTIVES
Our researcheffort is focusedon improving ourunderstandingof aerosolproperties
neededfor opticalmodelsfor remotemarineregions.This includesin-situ andvertical column
opticalclosureandinvolvesa redundancyof approachesto measureandmodeloptical
propertiesthat mustbe selfconsistent.Themodel is baseduponmeasuredin-situ aerosol
propertiesandwill be testedandconstrainedby thevertically measuredspectraldifferential
opticaldepthof themarineboundarylayer, MBL. Bothmeasuredandmodeledcolumnoptical
propertiesfor theboundarylayer, whenaddedto thefree-troposphereandstratosphericoptical
depth,will beusedto establishspectralopticaldepthover theentire atmosphericcolumnfor
comparisonto andvalidationof satellitederivedradiances(AVHRR).
INSTRUMENTATION
Cape Kumukahi Coastal Measurements
1) Laser Optical Particle counter (PMS - LAS-x) provides 256 channels of size resolution
from 0.15-7.0um. Thermal analysis is used to differentiate species such as sulfuric
acid, ammonium sulfate and sea-salt.
2) Shadowband Photometer, 7-wavelength differential aerosol optical depth
measurements between the coast and Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) (3,500m alt.).
The difference yields the optical depth of the MBL constrains the effective MBL size
distribution.
3) The new TSI 3-wavelength total and backscatter nephelometer was finally operational
in 1995. We added a Bemer impactor (50% cut at lum) to the unit that can be put in
the airstream to obtain total and submicron aerosol scattering and backscattering
coefficients at three wavelengths.
4) Condensation nuceleus counters (TSI 3760) provide an indication of total aerosol
number and help identify background conditions and perturbed conditions (eg. volcanic
haze, pollution).
5) Aethaelometer (McGee Scientific) provides the aerosol absorption coefficient and an
estimate of pollution from absorbing combustion soot.
6) Differential Mobility Analyzer - size distribution from 0.1 to 0.5um.
7) Meteorological sensors
Light
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Aircraft Measurements (Cessna 172)
Mini-optical particle counters (MET 1 237A and 237H) that together describe the size
distribution from 0.1 to 10urn.
Mini-nephelometer - Radiance Research single wavelength (530 nm). We have
fabricated a low pressure drop impactor for it that can be used to also obtain total and
submicron scattering coefficients.
CN counter (TSI-3760) - for gauging rapid variability in aerosol concentrations.
GPS - for logging our 3-D position continuously.
Four wavelength hand held photometers for differential optical depth determination.
SUMMARY OF 1995 _ EXPERIMENT
Measurements were made at Kumukahi, Hawaii (Jan-Feb, 1995) on the most eastern tip
on the upwind coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is exposed to clean Pacific air from the
northeast trades and the clearest skies due to reduced orographic lifting along this coast. Our
measurements include the aerosol size distribution from 0.02 - 7.5 #m diameter (custom
optical particle counter, OPC and differential mobility analyzer, DMA), the aerosol volatility
(used to infer the aerosol composition), the aerosol scattering coefficient (TSI three wavelength
Nephelometer), the aerosol absorption coefficient (Aethaelometer), differential aerosol optical
depth at 7 wavelengths (measured at Mauna Loa Observatory-MLO at 3,500 m alt. and the
coast) and satellite derived aerosol optical depth. Our preliminary 1994 measurement phase
established a measurement methodology, tested and calibrated instruments, evaluated the
sampling site and established intercomparison procedures with MLO. Recent activities
expanded our characterization the marine boundary layer (MBL) optical depth and aerosol
properties and completed the development and deployment of a light aircraft (Cessna)
measurement capability suitable for the in-situ characterization of aerosol physical and optical
properties. During the 2 month deployment a near continuous record was established for
aerosol physical and optical properties at the coastal site. This baseline instrumentation was
also used for intercalibration of the smaller portable instrumentation that comprised our aircraft
package.
Eleven 2-3 hour flights were made during this period for both test and measurement
purposes. When possible flights and vertical profiles were flown upwind of our ground station
in order to allow comparison of the in-situ vertical profiles with our MBL differential optical
depth measurements and with AVHRR aerosol optical depth retrievals over the ocean. The
combination of operational instrumentation, satisfactory weather conditions, aircraft
availability coincident with AVHRR images and well defined aerosol fields were present on
four of these flights that allowed for complete vertical profiles through the trade wind
inversion. Two were obtained for typical "clean" marine conditions and two were for a MBL
impacted by elevated volcanic sulfate haze. The latter was planned for in order to assess the
optical influence of a "pure" well defined sulfate haze on the MBL column optical properties
since this volcanic haze has many of the same properties as continental sulfate pollution haze.
ACE-1 FIELD PHASE - NEAR C-130 - TASMANIA
During November-December 1995 we commenced the third phase of our program.
This was aboard the NCAR C-130 as part of the ACE-1 program. Our NASA objectives
include column radiative closure based upon the same or similar instrumentation and approach
described above. These were carried out at various locations along the flight track from
Alaska to Australia including our primary base site out of Hobart Tasmania. This objective
includes intercomparisons (column closure) measurements in conjunction with column
extinction measurements using the Total Diffuse and Direct Radiometer (TDDR-F. Valero,
NASA/Scripps) aboard the aircraft. This was supplemented by extensive in-situ aerosol probe
data and aerosol chemistry as well as satellite derived optical depths. These missions were one
of the objectives of the ACE-1 program and about 20% of the 33 flights include closure
opportunities.Table1 is asummaryof theACE-1 flight missions. Dedicated "column
closure"missionsweremadein thepredominatelysulfuric acid plumefrom Kiluaeadownwind
of the HawaiianIslands. Direct coordinationwith satellitesallowedcomparisonwith satellite
derivedproperties. We alsocarriedout dedicated"closure" missionsin several"clean" air
regionsnearTasmaniaincludingonecasewherevirtually only sea-saltaerosolwaspresent.
ACTIVITES 1996-1997
Our final efforts under this proposal have focussed upon the analysis of the radiative closure
efforts mentioned above. Some delay has been encountered while waiting for some of the
differntial optical depth analysis to be competed by other ACE-1 investigators. We have also
worked on refinements to satellite retrieval algorithms. We have now completed:
1) Local closure between the OPC and DMA with our single and 3 wavelength
nephelometer. This closure focused on aerosol of known composition (lab generated) and
later on ambient aerosol.
2) Analysis of aircraft vertical profiles during our experiment using our new integrated light-
aircraft package (nephelometer, particle counters, CN counter, GPS).
3) The field data was analyzed and tested against the measured spectral differential optical
depth.
4) The optical model and sunphotometer data was compared to satellite retrievals in order to
test and refine retrieval algorithms.
5) The above approach was applied to the NCAR C-130 aircraft measurement program
during ACE-1. This included closure studies with the TDDR (F. Valero, NASA/Scripps).
Cases of elevated sulfate, clean marine background and low sulfate with high sea-salt were
evaluated.
6) Uncertainty analysis of closure approach.
PAPERS BASED UPON THIS WORK
Papers on clean background radiative closure are presently under preparation for JGR
based upon the above work.
THESIS BASED ON THIS WORK
Measured and Modeled Aerosol Radiative Properties in the Marine Boundary Layer
Masters Thesis by Xinli Li, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hi, November 1997.
PRESENTATIONS BASED UI_N THIS RESEARCH
:t:
Clarke A.D. and R. Schnell, Black Carbon Variability in the Pacific Free troposphere and
Marine Boundary Layer, 5th International Carbon Conference, Berkeley, CA., Aug. 22-
26, 1994.
Clarke, A. D. and J. N. Porter, Aerosol Measurements and Optical Extinction in the
Marine Boundary Layer, in Proceedings of the Aerosol and Atmospheric Optics
Conference, Snowbird Utah, Sept. 26-30, 1994.
Clarke, A.D. Thermal volatility techniques and their application to current problems in
atmospheric chemistry - Gordon Conference on Atmospheric Chemistry, R.I., June 1995
Clarke A. D., X. Li, J. Porter and M. Litchy, Radiative Poperties of Marine Aerosol:
Column Closure in Clean and Perturbed Marine Boundary Layer, American Association
for Aerosol research, Orlando, 1996
Litchy, M. and A.D. Clarke, Light-Aircraft Portable Sampling Package for Measuring
Differential AerosolRadiative Properties in the Pacific Marine Boundary Layer, paper
1C2, Annual Conference of American Association for Aerosol Research, Orlando, Oct,
1996.
Clarke, A.D., X. Li, J. Porter and M. Litchy, A Preliminary Investigation of Column
Radiative Closure During ACE-l, Fall AGU, 1996.
Porter, J., A. D. Clarke, X. Li, Aerosol Optical Depth and Albvedo Effects: Calculations
and Closure Measurements During ACE-l, Fall AGU 1996.
Clarke, A.D., Column Radiative Closure in the Clean and Perturbed Marine Boundsary
Layer, Spring AGU, Baltimore, 1997
A. D. Clarke, Xinli Li, J. Porter, Radiative Column Closure in the Marine Boundary Layer
During Ace-1: Instrumentation and Implementation Issues, AAAR, Oct. 1997


Remote Marine Aerosol: A Characterization of Physical, Chemical and Optical Properties and their Relation to Radiative Transfer in the Troposphere

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