Effect of anthropogenic aerosols on biologically active ultraviolet radiation

Liu, S. C.; McKeen, S. A.; Madronich, S.

doi:10.1029/91gl02773

Cited by 160 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…This is because of lack of sensitivity in the TOMS technique to reliably detect smaller amounts of absorbing aerosols. Although further work may improve the sensitivity of the estimation procedure, it is unlikely that TOMS AI technique will be able to detect weakly absorbing aerosols near the surface, often found in urban atmospheres [Liu et al, 1991]. These aerosols can still be detected using single reflectivity channel ( However, the technique currently does not have the sensitivity to detect the more prevalent weakly absorbing aerosols and absorbing aerosols at low altitudes.…”

Section: Absorbing Aerosol Effectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Satellite estimation of spectral surface UV irradiance in the presence of tropospheric aerosols: 1. Cloud‐free case

Krotkov¹,

Bhartia²,

Herman³

et al. 1998

J. Geophys. Res.

200

208

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Abstract. The algorithm for determining spectral UVA (320-400 nm) and UVB (290-320 nm) flux in cloud-free conditions is discussed, including estimates of the various error sources (uncertainties in ground reflectivity, ozone amount, ozone profile shape, surface height, and aerosol attenuation). It is shown that the Brewer-measured spectral dependence of UV flux can be accurately reproduced using just total column ozone amount and the solar flux spectrum. The presence of aerosols tends to reduce the logarithm of the absolute UV flux linearly with aerosol optical depth. Using Brewer measurements of UV flux and aerosol optical depth on clear days at Toronto, the estimated slope falls in the range 0.2 to 0.3 (aerosol single-scattering albedo about 0.95). The Brewer measurements of UV flux can be reproduced using the aerosol model derived within uncertainties of the instrument calibration. We have applied the algorithm to the data collected by the total ozone mapping spectrometer (TOMS) instruments that have been flown by NASA since November 1978. It was demonstrated that in the absence of clouds and UV-absorbing aerosols, TOMS measurements of total column ozone and 380 nm (or 360 nm) radiances can be used in conjunction with a radiative transfer model to provide estimates of surface spectral flux to accuracies comparable to that of typical ground-based instruments. A newly developed technique using TOMS aerosol index data also allows estimation of UV flux transmission by strongly absorbing aerosols. The results indicate that over certain parts of the Earth, aerosols can reduce the UV flux at the surface by more than 50%. Therefore the most important need for reducing errors in TOMS-derived surface UVB spectra is to improve the understanding of UV aerosol attenuation. IntroductionThe amount of ultraviolet radiation in the UVA (320-400 nm) and UVB (290-320 nm) spectral ranges that reach the surface of the Earth is determined by Rayleigh scattering from the molecular atmosphere, the absorption of ozone, scattering by clouds, and both scattering and absorption by aerosols. For the last two decades, global increases in UV fluxes from decreasing stratospheric ozone amounts caused by anthropogenic chlorine releasing gases (mostly chlorofluorocarbons) have been an issue of public concern. Changes in UV fluxes at the

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Section: Absorbing Aerosol Effectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Satellite estimation of spectral surface UV irradiance in the presence of tropospheric aerosols: 1. Cloud‐free case

Krotkov¹,

Bhartia²,

Herman³

et al. 1998

J. Geophys. Res.

200

208

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“…It was revealed that in highly polluted areas the absorption of solar UV radiation by urban anthropogenic aerosols can extensively decrease UV radiation at the earth's surface by more than 50% (Krotkov et al 1998;Sellitto et al 2006). Furthermore, over nonurban areas in industrialized countries solar irradiance in the range of 280-315 nm (UV-B) has decreased by about 5%-18% since the industrial revolution owing to increasing loading of aerosols (Liu et al 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aerosol Optical Depth and the Global Brewer Network: A Study Using U.K.- and Malaysia-Based Brewer Spectrophotometers

Kumharn

Rimmer

Smedley

et al. 2012

Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology

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Aerosols play an important role in attenuating solar radiation reaching the earth's surface and are thus important inputs to climate models. Aerosol optical depth is routinely measured in the visible range but little data in the ultraviolet (UV) are available. In the UV range it can be determined from Langley plots of directsun measurements from the Brewer spectrophotometer (where conditions allow) and can also be determined as the residual once the ozone and sulfur dioxide have been accounted for in the extinction observed during a normal Brewer direct-sun measurement. By comparing aerosol optical depth derived from Brewer directsun data in both the United Kingdom and Malaysia, two very different locations, it is determined that while most of the existing global Brewer network could contribute to aerosol optical depth data, further analysis, such as calculation of the Å ngströ m parameter, would be dependent on latitude and sky conditions.

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“…UV-B radiation also has adverse effects on terrestrial plants (Tevini and Teramura, 1989;Cordero et al, 2009) and on other elements of the biosphere (Diffey, 1991). The increase of anthropogenic aerosols in non-urban areas of the industrialized countries since the industrial revolution is supposed to have decreased the biologically active UV radiation by 5 to 18% (Liu et al, 1991). Accuracy in UV prediction can be improved if the role of aerosols on surface UV radiation is clarified (Kim et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aerosol Optical Depth measurements at 340 nm with a Brewer spectrophotometer and comparison with Cimel sunphotometer observations at Uccle, Belgium

et al. 2010

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Abstract. The Langley Plot Method (LPM) is adapted for the retrieval of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) values at 340 nm from Brewer#178 sun scan measurements between 335 and 345 nm (convoluted with the band pass function of the Cimel sunphotometer filter at 340 nm) performed in Uccle, Belgium. The use of sun scans instead of direct sun measurements simplifies the comparison of the AOD values with quasi-simultaneous Cimel sunphotometer values. Also, the irradiance at 340 nm is larger than the one at 320.1 nm due to lower ozone absorption, thus improving the signal to noise ratio. For the selection of the cloudless days (from now on referred to as calibration quality clear days), a new set of criteria is proposed. With the adapted method, individual clear sky AOD values, for which the selection criteria are also presented in this article, are calculated for a period from September 2006 until the end of August 2010. These values are then compared to quasi-simultaneous Cimel sunphotometer measurements, showing a very good agreement (the correlation coefficient, the slope and the intercept of the regression line are respectively 0.974, 0.968 and 0.011), which proves that good quality observations can be obtained from Brewer sun scan measurements at 340 nm. The analysis of the monthly and seasonal Brewer AODs at Uccle is consistent with studies at other sites reporting on the seasonal variation of AODs in Europe. The highest values can be observed in summer and spring, whereas more than 50% of the winter AODs are lower than 0.3. On a monthly scale, the lowest AOD are observed in December and the highest values occur in June and April. No clear weekly cycle is observed for Uccle. The current cloud-screening algorithm is still an issue, Correspondence to: V. De Bock (veerle.debock@meteo.be) which means that some AOD values can still be influenced by scattered clouds. This effect can be seen when comparing the calculated monthly mean values of the Brewer with the AERONET measurements.

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Effect of anthropogenic aerosols on biologically active ultraviolet radiation

Cited by 160 publications

References 17 publications

Satellite estimation of spectral surface UV irradiance in the presence of tropospheric aerosols: 1. Cloud‐free case

Satellite estimation of spectral surface UV irradiance in the presence of tropospheric aerosols: 1. Cloud‐free case

Aerosol Optical Depth and the Global Brewer Network: A Study Using U.K.- and Malaysia-Based Brewer Spectrophotometers

Aerosol Optical Depth measurements at 340 nm with a Brewer spectrophotometer and comparison with Cimel sunphotometer observations at Uccle, Belgium

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