Global analysis of aerosol properties above clouds
International audience seasonal and spatial variability of Aerosol Above Cloud (AAC) properties are derived from passive satellite data for the year 2008. A significant amount of aerosols are transported above liquid water clouds on the global scale. For particles in the fine mode (i.e., radius smal...
Published in: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
Other Authors: | , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
HAL CCSD
2013
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://insu.hal.science/insu-03620880 https://insu.hal.science/insu-03620880/document https://insu.hal.science/insu-03620880/file/Geophysical%20Research%20Letters%20-%202013%20-%20Waquet%20-%20Global%20analysis%20of%20aerosol%20properties%20above%20clouds.pdf https://doi.org/10.1002/2013GL057482 |
Summary: | International audience seasonal and spatial variability of Aerosol Above Cloud (AAC) properties are derived from passive satellite data for the year 2008. A significant amount of aerosols are transported above liquid water clouds on the global scale. For particles in the fine mode (i.e., radius smaller than 0.3 µm), including both clear-sky and AAC, retrievals increase the global mean aerosol optical thickness by 25(±6)%. The two main regions of originated anthropogenic AAC are the tropical Southeast Atlantic, for biomass-burning aerosols, and the North Pacific, mainly for pollutants. Man-made AAC are also detected over the Arctic during the spring. Mineral dust particles are detected above clouds within the so-called "dust belt" region (5-40° N). AAC may cause a warming effect and bias the retrieval of the cloud properties. This study will then help to better quantify the impacts of aerosols on clouds and climate. |
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