We use the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite aerosol optical thickness (AOT) product to assess the impact of reduced swath width on global and regional AOT statistics and trends. Alongtrack and across-track sampling strategies are employed, in which the full MODIS data set is sub-sampled with various narrow-swath (∼ 400–800 km) and single pixel width (∼ 10 km) conf...

From 2006 to 2007, the daily concentrations of major inorganic water-soluble constituents, mineral aerosol, organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in ambient PM10 samples were investigated from 16 urban, rural and remote sites in various regions of China, and were compared with global aerosol measurements. A large difference between urban and rural chemical species was found, normally wi...

The physical and chemical properties of an aerosol have a direct influence upon fire suppression mechanisms and extinguishing efficacy. These same properties are also basic determinants of aerosol inhalation toxicity. To evaluate the toxicity of an aerosol, it must first be determined if the aerosol can be inspired. Particles with a median aerodynamic diameter of 1-2 pm are capable ofpenetratin...

The Multi-sensor Cloud Retrieval Simulator (MCRS) produces a “simulated radiance” product from any high-resolution general circulation model with interactive aerosol as if a specific sensor such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) were viewing a combination of the atmospheric column and land–ocean surface at a specific location. Previously the MCRS code only included co...

We used multi-year satellite observations to study aerosol effects on the large-scale variability in precipitation of the West African Monsoon (WAM) region, which is often impacted by high concentrations of desert dust and biomassburning smoke. We find a statistically significant precipitation reduction associated with high aerosol concentration near the coast of the Gulf of Guinea from late bo...

Organic aerosol formation in the atmosphere is investigated via the developpement of a new model named H2O (Hydrohilic/Hydrophobic Organics). First, a parameterization is developped to take into account secondary organic aerosol formation from isoprene oxidation. It takes into account the e ect of nitrogen oxides on organic aerosol formation and the hydrophilic properties of the aerosols. This ...

Satellite monitoring of aerosol properties using passive techniques is widely considered a crucial tool for the study of climatic effects of atmospheric particulate [Kaufman et al., 1997]. Only space-based observations can provide the required global coverage information on spatial distribution and temporal variation of the aerosol field. This paper describes a method for deriving aerosol optic...

Aerosols are believed to play a direct role in the radiation budget of earth, but their net radiative effect is not well established, particularly on regional scales. Whether aerosols heat or cool a given location depends on their composition and column amount and on the surface albedo, information that is not routinely available, especially over land. Obtaining global information on aerosol an...

We develop a method that uses both the total column aerosol optical depth (AOD) and the fractional AOD values for different aerosol types, derived from Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) aerosol data, to estimate ground-level concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) mass and its major constituents in eastern and western United States. Compared with previous research on linking...

The aerosol radiative effect in the long-wave (LW) spectral range is sometimes not taken into account in atmospheric aerosol forcing studies at local scale because the LW aerosol effect is assumed to be negligible. At regional and global scale this effect is partially taken into account: aerosol absorption is taken into account but scattering is still neglected. However, aerosols with strong ab...