Aerosol Optical Properties and Types over Southern Africa and Reunion Island Determined from Ground-Based and Satellite Observations over a 13-Year Period (2008–2021)

Fires occur seasonally in Southern Africa, from June to November, increasing tropospheric aerosol loading and triggering harmful consequences for the environment human health. This study aims examine 13 years of optical characteristics types over Africa Reunion Island. Using AERONET sun photometers MODIS observations, we found that a high depth Angström exponent are associated with two predominant aerosols (biomass burning/urban industrial mixed type) throughout spring season. According CALIOP major occurrence frequencies above 10% polluted continental/smoke, dust, elevated smoke, whereas clean continental, dusty marine have below 1%. In comparison other seasons, vertical profiles smoke different shapes spring, seasonal shift peak altitude (from 3–4 km), when fire activity is at its maximum. At these altitudes, northern regions presented 32% on average, while lower values were southern or farthest (<10–20% average). The Lagrangian HYSPLIT model back-trajectories demonstrated eastward transport, air masses South America Atlantic Ocean recirculate around sites. mainly derived active biomass burning areas near sites and, lesser extent, remote sources such as America.