A case study on biomass burning aerosols: effects on aerosol optical properties and surface radiation levels

Abstract

Abstract. In spring 2006, biomass burning aerosols from eastern Europe were transported extensively to Finland, and to other parts of northern Europe. They were observed as far as in the European Arctic. In the first part of this paper, temporal and spatial evolution and transport of these biomass burning aerosols are monitored with MODIS retrieved aerosol optical depth (AOD) imagery at visible wavelengths (0.55 µm). Comparison of MODIS and AERONET AOD is conducted at Tõravere, Estonia. Then trajectory analyses, as well as MODIS Fire Mapper products are used to better understand the type and origin of the air masses. During the studied four-week period AOD values ranged from near zero up to 1.2 at 0.55 µm and the linear correlation between MODIS and AERONET was very high (∼0.97). Temporal variability observed within this fourweek period was also rather well explained by the trajectory analysis in conjunction with the fire detections produced by the MODIS Rapid Response System. In the second part of our study, the surface measurements of global and UV radiation at Jokioinen, Finland are used to study the effect of this haze episode on the levels of surface radiation. We found reductions up to 35% in noon-time surface UV irradiance (at 340 nm) as compared to typical aerosol conditions. For global (total solar) radiation, the reduction was always smaller, in line with the expected wavelength dependence of the aerosol effect.

Comparison of UV irradiances from Aura/Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) with Brewer measurements at El Arenosillo (Spain) – Part 1: Analysis of parameter influence

“…The problem is that currently, there are no standard methods for measuring AAOT (or aerosol single-scattering albedo, SSA) in the UV wavelengths even from the ground. Such measurements are currently available only at few sites Arola et al, 2007). AAOT or SSA values can be obtained in AERONET aerosol stations but they are determined only in visible-infrared wavelengths (shortest 440 nm) and with a high associated uncertainty.…”

Investigation of Biomass Burning Chemical Components over Northern Southeast Asia during 7-SEAS/BASELInE 2014 Campaign

“…Over Southeast Asia, this activity usually peaks in the dry season Hyer and chew, 2010;Permadi and Kim Oanh, 2013;Mahmud, 2013), which includes both forest fires and open burning of crop residues for preparation of planting areas (Chantara et al, 2012;Kim Oanh and Leelasakultum, 2011). BB emissions severely affect human health (IPCC, 2007;Chuesaard et al, 2014;Sevimoglu and Rogge, 2015), as well as regional/global climate (Arola et al, 2007;Pratt et al, 2010;Alonso-Blanco et al, 2014). Chemical profiling of BB aerosols is essential to distinguishing various source origins, and can be used to evaluate effects on health and climate .…”

The influence of the spatial resolution of topographic input data on the accuracy of 3-D UV actinic flux and irradiance calculations

“…Simultaneous measurements of AOD and ground UV performed by Krzyscin and Puchalski (1998) and Balis et al (2004) showed that changes in AOD during a day may lead to changes in atmospheric transmission in the UV range of up to 20-30 % . Other measurements of the day to day variability showed that changes in AOD may result in changes of UV radiation of the order of 20 % to 45 % (e.g., Reuder and Schwander, 1999;Arola et al, 2007). Increasing altitude reduces the depth of the atmosphere giving a shorter path length for the solar radiation.…”