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Unexpected High Absorption of Atmospheric Aerosols Over a Western Tibetan Plateau Site in Summer
Author(s) -
Zhang Lei,
Tang Chenguang,
Huang Jianping,
Du Tao,
Guan Xu,
Tian Pengfei,
Shi Jinsen,
Cao Xianjie,
Huang Zhongwei,
Guo Qi,
Zhang Haotian,
Wang Min,
Zeng Huiyu,
Wang Feiyang,
Dolkar Pema
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1029/2020jd033286
Subject(s) - aerosol , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , single scattering albedo , albedo (alchemy) , absorption (acoustics) , plateau (mathematics) , radiative transfer , mineral dust , wind speed , morning , meteorology , materials science , geography , geology , physics , mathematical analysis , art , mathematics , quantum mechanics , performance art , composite material , art history , astronomy
The assessment of atmospheric aerosol radiative effects in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) suffers from large uncertainties due to limited understanding of aerosol physicochemical properties. To quantify aerosol optical properties, size distributions, and chemical compositions in the western TP, an intensive field campaign was carried out at Shiquanhe National Reference Climatological Station from July 8 to August 2, 2019. Unexpected low single scattering albedo (SSA) at 870 nm was found for the fine aerosols with an average value of 0.73 ± 0.18. SSA was even lower than 0.60 in the morning when fine aerosols peaked, indicating high absorption of the fine aerosols induced by anthropogenic activities. Coarse mode aerosols accounted for 70.58% ± 14.98% of the total volume concentration and mineral dust was the most abundant species in total suspended particles with a mass fraction of 48.7%. Fine mode aerosol concentrations showed little dependence on wind speed while coarse mode aerosols and metallic element concentrations exhibited strong positive correlations with wind speed, indicating the importance of wind‐blown dust particles. The present study for the first time quantified key aerosol parameters in the western TP and unexpected high absorption of atmospheric aerosols were found over the site in summer. Our results suggest the need to carefully consider the radiative effects caused by aerosol absorption in the TP region.