Back to Search Start Over

Intercomparison of aerosol extinction profiles retrieved from MAX-DOAS measurements

Authors :
U. Frieß
H. Klein Baltink
S. Beirle
K. Clémer
F. Hendrick
B. Henzing
H. Irie
G. de Leeuw
A. Li
M. M. Moerman
M. van Roozendael
R. Shaiganfar
T. Wagner
Y. Wang
P. Xie
S. Yilmaz
P. Zieger
Source :
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, Vol 9, Iss 7, Pp 3205-3222 (2016)
Publication Year :
2016
Publisher :
Copernicus Publications, 2016.

Abstract

A first direct intercomparison of aerosol vertical profiles from Multi-Axis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) observations, performed during the Cabauw Intercomparison Campaign of Nitrogen Dioxide measuring Instruments (CINDI) in summer 2009, is presented. Five out of 14 participants of the CINDI campaign reported aerosol extinction profiles and aerosol optical thickness (AOT) as deduced from observations of differential slant column densities of the oxygen collision complex (O4) at different elevation angles. Aerosol extinction vertical profiles and AOT are compared to backscatter profiles from a ceilometer instrument and to sun photometer measurements, respectively. Furthermore, the near-surface aerosol extinction coefficient is compared to in situ measurements of a humidity-controlled nephelometer and dry aerosol absorption measurements. The participants of this intercomparison exercise use different approaches for the retrieval of aerosol information, including the retrieval of the full vertical profile using optimal estimation and a parametrised approach with a prescribed profile shape. Despite these large conceptual differences, and also differences in the wavelength of the observed O4 absorption band, good agreement in terms of the vertical structure of aerosols within the boundary layer is achieved between the aerosol extinction profiles retrieved by the different groups and the backscatter profiles observed by the ceilometer instrument. AOTs from MAX-DOAS and sun photometer show a good correlation (R>0.8), but all participants systematically underestimate the AOT. Substantial differences between the near-surface aerosol extinction from MAX-DOAS and from the humidified nephelometer remain largely unresolved.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
18671381 and 18678548
Volume :
9
Issue :
7
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.b583f14b49de4e3fbb9263d25957beec
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-3205-2016