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Aerosol characterization at the sub‐Arctic site Andenes (69°N, 16°E), by the analysis of columnar optical properties
Author(s) -
Rodríguez E.,
Toledano C.,
Cachorro V. E.,
Ortiz P.,
Stebel K.,
Berjón A.,
Blindheim S.,
Gausa M.,
de Frutos A. M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.921
Subject(s) - aerosol , aeronet , angstrom exponent , environmental science , sun photometer , atmospheric sciences , single scattering albedo , air mass (solar energy) , arctic , latitude , mass concentration (chemistry) , climatology , meteorology , geography , oceanography , geology , physics , geodesy , boundary layer , thermodynamics
Since 2002 sun photometer measurements were carried out at Andenes (Norway), in the ALOMAR observatory, to investigate the aerosol optical properties in the European sub‐Arctic region. From 2002 to 2005 measurements were performed during summer campaigns. Since 2006 a Cimel sun photometer has been permanently deployed at the site. The instrument is part of the Red Ibérica de medida de Aerosoles Atmosféricos aerosol robotic network (RIMA–AERONET). The aerosol optical depth (AOD) and the Ångström exponent (AE) were analysed to investigate the aerosol content, type and seasonality in this sub‐Arctic location. Back trajectories were used to provide information about the air‐mass origin, especially for cases of moderate turbidity produced by long‐range transported aerosols from mid‐latitudes. The AOD was in general very low, with mean AOD units of 0.10 ± 0.05 and characteristics of clean continental or marine type aerosols (AE = 1.2 ± 0.4). The lower mean monthly values were obtained in February (0.04) and November (0.06), and the maximum was found in May (0.12). Episodes of long‐range transported aerosol occurred at any time when observations were made, with the highest frequency in May, and originated in central and eastern Europe. The associated air masses transported anthropogenic pollution, biomass burning aerosols and in some cases also Saharan dust. A characterization of microphysical properties was performed, showing that the fine mode dominated the particle size distribution, with an average fine mode volume fraction of 0.69. In Arctic regions, enhanced levels of aerosol concentrations occur frequently in late winter and spring due Arctic haze. In our study such hazy periods were not observed at Andenes. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society