Global analysis of aerosol properties above clouds

• Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
• Main Authors: Waquet, F., Peers, F., Ducos, F., Goloub, P., Platnick, S., Riedi, J., Tanré, D., Thieuleux, F.
• Other Authors: Laboratoire d’Optique Atmosphérique - UMR 8518 (LOA), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Lille-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2013
• Subjects: aerosol; climate; cloud; satellite; global; [SDU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]; Arctic; Pacific
• 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

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.