Aerosol cloud interaction: a multiplatform-scenario-based methodology

摘要

Suspended atmospheric particles i.e. aerosol particles go through many chemical and physical processes and those interactions and transformations may cause particle change in size, structure and composition regulated by mechanisms, which are also present in clouds. These interactions play a great role in the radiation transfer in the atmosphere and are not completely understood as competing effects might occur which are known as indirect aerosol effects. Performing measurements and experiments in remote sensing to improve the knowledge of these processes are also a challenge. In face of that we propose a multi-platform approach based lidar, sun photometry and satellite observations which should be characterized under a scenario perspective in which given the cloud height, geometric and optical geometries in a diurnalocturnal basis will make possible to apply different analytical tools in each a set of product that specify the aerosol present in the vicinity of clouds, their optical and physical properties. These scenarios are meant to aid in tagging the expected products and help in creating a robust database to systematically study the aerosol-cloud interaction.In total we will present 6 scenarios: 3 under daylight conditions, 3 under at nighttime. Each scenario and their counterpart should be able to provide the cloud base/top height, aerosol backscattering profile and cloud optical/geometric thickness. In each instance we should count on a 5 wavelength Raman lidar system measurement, a collocated sun photometer and CALIPSO/MODIS observation from AQUA/TERRA platforms. To further improve the aerosol cloud interaction the Raman lidar system should have a water vapor channel or moreover a liquid water channel. In our study we will present a two-day case study to show the methodology feasibility and its potential application.