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A multi‐instrument approach for characterizing the atmospheric aerosol optical thickness during the STAAARTE/DAISEX‐99 campaign
Author(s) -
MartínezLozano José A.,
Pedrós Roberto,
Flamant Cyrille,
Utrillas María P.,
Tena Fernando,
Moreno José,
Pelon Jacques,
Cisneros Juan M.,
GonzálezFrias Carlos
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2001gl013585
Subject(s) - nephelometer , lidar , environmental science , aerosol , remote sensing , irradiance , troposphere , solar irradiance , extinction (optical mineralogy) , single scattering albedo , spectrometer , backscatter (email) , albedo (alchemy) , atmospheric optics , spectroradiometer , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , optics , light scattering , physics , scattering , geology , reflectivity , art , telecommunications , performance art , computer science , wireless , art history
This work deals with the retrieval of the aerosol optical thickness (AOT) needed to carry out the atmospheric correction of remote sensing data measured in Barrax (Spain) on 4 June 1999 in the framework of 1999 Digital Airbone Imaging Spectrometer Experiment (DAISEX'99). The AOT was estimated through three approaches based on: spectral extinction of direct solar irradiance at ground level, airborne nephelometer measurements at different altitudes, and backscatter lidar in the lower troposphere. We found extremely low AOT values due to a cold Atlantic front that swept across the Iberian Peninsula from west to east producing light rain over the test area on 2 June 1999. The results were solar irradiance extinction: 0.085±0.018; nephelometer: 0.063±0.020; lidar: 0.083±0.030. Nephelometer‐ and lidar‐derived values account for both extinction and absorption, assuming a single scattering albedo value of 0.90. Errors values include measurements and retrieval uncertainties as well as statistical variability.