Open Journal Systems

Satellite-based study of physico-optical properties of aerosols over a westernmost location of Brahmaputra valley

Jhuma Biswas 1

Article ID: 699
Vol 3, Issue 2, 2018, Article identifier:

VIEWS - 775 (Abstract) 252 (PDF)

Abstract

This study examines the long term trend of the radiatively active atmospheric aerosols which can influence the Earth’s energy budget directly by scattering and absorbing radiation and indirectly by acting as cloud condensation nuclei. MODIS sensor on board the NASA Earth Observing System Terra and Aqua satellite based Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) data are used for long term analysis of aerosols over Bongaigaon, Assam for the period August, 2002 to March, 2017. Highest AOD values are observed in pre-monsoon (March-May) season due to long range transportation as well as intense biomass burning activities especially as a part of Jhum cultivation. In general, AOD values are low in post-monsoon (October-November) season which may be due to wash out of aerosols by rain in the preceding months without enough replacement. The monthly AOD values vary from its highest value 0.949 in April, 2016 to its lowest value 0.107 in November, 2002 for the study period. From the comparison of MODIS Terra and Aqua AOD at 550 nm, it is clearly seen that generally Terra AOD at 10:30 hr is higher than the Aqua AOD at 13:30hr. A slowly increasing trend of both Aqua and Terra AOD at 550 nm is observed over the study location. The observed Ångström exponent value varies from its minimum value in monsoon season to its maximum value in winter season. With increasing AOD values, horizontal visibility decreases over Bongaigaon.

Keywords

AOD; MODIS; TRMM; Jhum Cultivation; Visibility.

Full Text:

PDF


Included Database


References

Moorthy KK, Sunilkumar SV, Pillai PS, et al. Wintertime spatial characteristics of boundary layer aerosols over peninsular India. Journal of Geophysical Research 2005; 110: D08207.

Niranjan K, Sreekanth V, Madhavan BL, et al. Aerosol physical properties and Radiative forcing at the outflow region from the Indo-Gangetic plains during typical clear and hazy periods of wintertime. Geophysical Research Letters 2007; 34: L19805.

Beegum SN, Moorthy KK, Nair VS, et al. Characteristics of spectral aerosol optical depths over India during ICARB. Journal of Earth System Science 2008; 117: 303-313.

Babu SS, Manoj MR, Moorthy KK, et al. Trends in aerosol optical depth over Indian region: Potential causes and impact indicators. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 2013; 118: 11, 794-11, 806.

Gogoi MM, Bhuyan PK, Moorthy KK. Estimation of the effect of long-range transport on seasonal variation of aerosols over north eastern India. Annales Geophysicae 2008; 26: 1365-1377.

Gogoi MM, Moorthy KK, Babu SS et al. An investigation of aerosol size distribution properties at Dibrugarh: north-eastern India. Terrestrial, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences 2009; 20: 521-533.

Pathak B, Kalita G, Bhuyan K, et al. Aerosol temporal characteristics and its impact on shortwave radiative forcing at a location in the northeast of India. Journal of Geophysical Research 2010; 115: D19204.

Pathak B, Bhuyan PK, Gogoi M, et al. Seasonal heterogeneity in aerosol types over Dibrugarh-North-Eastern India. Atmospheric Environment 2012; 47: 307-315.

Gogoi MM, PathakB, Moorthy KK, et al. Multi-year investigations of near surface and columnar aerosols over Dibrugarh, North-Eastern location of India: Heterogeneity in source impacts. Atmospheric Environment 2011; 45: 1714-1724.

Pathak B, Bhuyan PK, Biswas J, et al. Long term climatology of particulate matter and associated microphysical and optical properties over Dibrugarh, North–East India and inter-comparison with SPRINTARS simulations. Atmospheric Environment 2013; 69: 334-344.

Pathak B, Borgohain A, Bhuyan PK, et al. Spatial heterogeneity in near surface aerosol characteristics across the Brahmaputra valley. Journal of Earth System Science 2014; 123: 651-663.

Pathak B, Subba T, Dahutia P, et al. Aerosol characteristics in north-east India using ARFINET spectral optical depth measurements. Atmospheric Environment 2016; 125: 461-473.

Gogoi MM, Babu SS, Moorty KK, et al. Radiative effects of absorbing aerosols over northeastern India: Observations and model simulations. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 2017; 122: 1132-1157.

Biswas J, Pathak B, Patadia F, et al. Satellite retrieved direct radiative forcing of aerosols over North-East India and adjoining areas: climatology and impact assessment. International Journal of Climatology 2017; 37(13): 4756-4756.

IPCC: Climate Change 2013 - The Physical Science Basis: Working Group I Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC, Climate Change 2013. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, 2013.

Bäumer D, Vogel B, Versick S, et al. Relationship of visibility, aerosol optical thickness and aerosol size distribution in an ageing air mass over South-West Germany. Atmospheric. Environment 2008; 42: 989-998.

Horvath H. Estimation of the average visibility in central Europe. Atmospheric Environment 1995; 29: 241-246.

Wang J, Christopher SA. Inter comparison between satellites derived aerosol optical thickness and PM2.5 mass: Implications for air quality studies. Geophysical Research Letters 2003; 30 (21): 2095.

Kessner AL, Wang J, Levy R, et al. Remote sensing of surface visibility from space: A look at the United States East Coast. Atmospheric Environment 2013; 81: 136-147.

Levy RC, Mattoo S, Munchak LA, et al. The collection 6 MODIS aerosol products over land and ocean. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques 2013; 6: 989-3034.

Beegum N, Moorthy KK, Babu SS. Aerosol microphysics over a tropical coastal station inferred from the spectral dependence of Angstrom wavelength exponent and inversion of spectral aerosol optical depths. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 2009; 71: 1846-1857.

Dani KK, Raj PE, Devara PCS, et al. Long-term trends and variability in measured multi-spectral aerosol optical depth over a tropical urban station in India. International Journal of Climatology 2010; 32: 153-160.

Draxler RR, Rolph GD. HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single–Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) Model, http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ready/hysplit4.html, Integrated Trajectory) Model 2003, http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ready/hysplit4.html, accessed in May 2014.

Moorthy KK, Babu SS, Satheesh SK. Aerosol spectral optical depths over the Bay of Bengal: Role of transport. Geophysical Research Letters 2003; 30(5): 1249.

Badarinath KVS, Kharol SK, Latha KM, et al. Multiyear ground-based and satellite observations of aerosol properties over a tropical urban area in India. Atmospheric Science Letters 2007; 8: 7-13.

Kaskaoutis DG, Badarinath KVS, Kharol SK, et al. Variations in the aerosol optical properties and types over the tropical urban site of Hyderabad, India. Journal of Geophysical Research 2009; 114: D22204.

Vermote EF, Vibert S, Kilcoyne H, et al. Suspended Matter. Visible/Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite algorithm theoretical basis document. SBRS Document # Y2390, Raytheon Systems Company, Information Technology and Scientific Services 2002, Maryland, 2002.


DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18063/som.v3i2.699
(775 Abstract Views, 252 PDF Downloads)

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2018 Satellite Oceanography and Meteorology