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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 108, NO. D13, 8504, doi:10.1029/2002JD002361, 2003

Vertical profiles of light scattering, light absorption, and single scattering albedo during the dry, biomass burning season in southern Africa and comparisons of in situ and remote sensing measurements of aerosol optical depths

Brian I. Magi

Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA


Peter V. Hobbs

Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA


Beat Schmid

Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, Sonoma, California, USA


Jens Redemann

Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, Sonoma, California, USA


Abstract

Airborne in situ measurements of vertical profiles of aerosol light scattering, light absorption, and single scattering albedo (ω0) are presented for a number of locations in southern Africa during the dry, biomass burning season. Features of the profiles include haze layers, clean air slots, and marked decreases in light scattering in passing from the boundary layer into the free troposphere. Frequency distributions of ω0 reflect the strong influence of smoke from biomass burning. For example, during a period when heavy smoke was advected into the region from the north, the mean value of ω0 in the boundary layer was 0.81 ± 0.02 compared to 0.89 ± 0.03 prior to this intrusion. Comparisons of layer aerosol optical depths derived from the in situ measurements with those measured by a Sun photometer aboard the aircraft show excellent agreement.

Received 22 March 2002; accepted 8 July 2002; published 19 June 2003.

Index Terms: 0305 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Aerosols and particles (0345, 4801); 0345 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Pollution—urban and regional (0305); 3307 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Boundary layer processes; 3359 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Radiative processes.

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Citation: Magi, B. I., P. V. Hobbs, B. Schmid, and J. Redemann (2003), Vertical profiles of light scattering, light absorption, and single scattering albedo during the dry, biomass burning season in southern Africa and comparisons of in situ and remote sensing measurements of aerosol optical depths, J. Geophys. Res., 108(D13), 8504, doi:10.1029/2002JD002361.