Open AccessClimatology of dust aerosol size distribution and optical properties derived from remotely sensed data in the solar spectrum
Author(s) -
Tanré D.,
Kaufman Y. J.,
Holben B. N.,
Chatenet B.,
Karnieli A.,
Lavenu F.,
Blarel L.,
Dubovik O.,
Remer L. A.,
Smirnov A.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2000jd900663
Subject(s) - aeronet , aerosol , effective radius , environmental science , remote sensing , single scattering albedo , atmospheric sciences , radius , particle size distribution , mineral dust , physics , meteorology , particle size , geology , astrophysics , paleontology , galaxy , computer security , computer science
Simultaneous spectral remote observations of dust properties from space and from the ground create a powerful tool for the determination of ambient dust properties integrated on the entire atmospheric column. The two measurement methods have a complementary sensitivity to variety of dust properties. The methodology is demonstrated using spectral measurements (0.47–2.21 μm) from Landsat TM over the bright Senegalian coast and dark ocean, and Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) radiances measured in several locations. We derive (1) the dust size distribution, showing a dominant coarse mode at 1–5 μm and a secondary mode around 0.5 μm effective radius; (2) dust absorption, which is found to be substantially smaller than reported from previous measurements; (3) the real part of the refractive index which varies within the range 1.53–1.46; and we show that (4) the effect of the dust nonspherical shape on its optical properties is not significant for scattering angles <120°.