The AERONET Version 3 aerosol retrieval algorithm, associated uncertainties and comparisons to Version 2 ...

• Main Authors: Sinyuk, Alexander, Holben, Brent N., Eck, Thomas F., Giles, David M., Slutsker, Ilya, Korkin, Sergey, Schafer, Joel S., Smirnov, Alexander, Sorokin, Mikhail, Lyapustin, Alexei
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: EGU 2020
• Subjects: Aerosol Robotic Network
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.13016/m2vvcp-uds7; https://mdsoar.org/handle/11603/25788

The Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) Version 3 (V3) aerosol retrieval algorithm is described, which is based on the Version 2 (V2) algorithm with numerous updates. Comparisons of V3 aerosol retrievals to those of V2 are presented, along with a new approach to estimate uncertainties in many of the retrieved aerosol parameters. Changes in the V3 aerosol retrieval algorithm include (1) a new polarized radiative transfer code (RTC), which replaced the scalar RTC of V2, (2) detailed characterization of gas absorption by adding NO2 and H2O to specify total gas absorption in the atmospheric column, specification of vertical profiles of all the atmospheric species, (3) new bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) parameters for land sites adopted from the MODIS BRDF/Albedo product, (4) a new version of the extraterrestrial solar flux spectrum, and (5) a new temperature correction procedure of both direct Sun and sky radiance measurements. The potential effect of each change in V3 on single scattering ...