Open AccessOn the association between aerosol optical depths and surface meteorological conditions in a tropical coastal environment
Author(s) -
Prabha R. Nair,
K. Krishna Moorthy
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
mausam
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.243
H-Index - 12
ISSN - 0252-9416
DOI - 10.54302/mausam.v46i4.3330
Subject(s) - aerosol , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , seasonality , climatology , monsoon , radiometer , wind speed , tropical cyclone , meteorology , remote sensing , geology , geography , statistics , mathematics
Columnar aerosol spectral optical depth data, estimated using a ground based passive multi-wavelength solar radiometer at the tropical coastal station of Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) (8.55°N, 77°E) during the period November 1985 to May 1991, are examined to study the association of the seasonal variations in the optical depths and their association with the prevailing meteorological conditions. A systematic seasonal variation has been observed, with the optical depths maximising in the summer/pre-monsoon season and reaching a minimum in the winter season. Significant association has been observed between the seasonal variations of aerosol spectral optical depths with those of the (on-shore) surface wind speed and the rainfall. The implications of the findings are discussed.