Evaluation of sulfate aerosol optical depths over the North Atlantic and comparison with satellite observations

• Main Authors: Berkowitz, C.M., Ghan, S.J., Benkovitz, C.M., Wagener, R., Nemesure, S., Schwartz, S.E.
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; AEROSOLS; CLIMATE MODELS; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS; AEROSOL MONITORING; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; DIFFUSE SOLAR RADIATION; OPTICAL DEPTH CURVE; SULFATES; AIR POLLUTION MONITORING; SATELLITES; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10116992; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/10116992

It has been postulated that scattering of sunlight by aerosols can significantly reduce the amount of solar energy absorbed by the climate system. Aerosol measurement programs alone cannot provide all the information needed to evaluate the radiative forcing due to anthropogenic aerosols. Thus, comprehensive global-scale aerosol models, properly validated against surface-based and satellite measurements, are a fundamental tool for evaluating the impacts of aerosols on the planetary radiation balance. Analyzed meteorological fields from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts are used to drive a modified version of the PNL Global Chemistry Model, applied to the atmospheric sulfur cycle. The resulting sulfate fields are used to calculate aerosol optical depths, which in turn are compared to estimates of aerosol optical depth based on satellite observations.