Abstract
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH,
VOL. 108,
8633,
20 PP., 2003
doi:10.1029/2003JD003550
An overview of ACE-Asia: Strategies for quantifying the relationships between Asian aerosols and their climatic impacts
Department of Oceanography, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, NOAA, Seattle, Washington, USA
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Advanced Environmental Monitoring Research Center, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Kwangju, Korea
Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
Center for Climate System Research, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
The International Global Atmospheric Chemistry Program (IGAC) has conducted a series of Aerosol Characterization Experiments
(ACE) that integrate in situ measurements, satellite observations, and models to reduce the uncertainty in calculations of
the climate forcing due to aerosol particles. ACE-Asia, the fourth in this series of experiments, consisted of two focused
components: (1) An intensive field study that sought to quantify the spatial and vertical distribution of aerosol concentrations
and properties, the processes controlling their formation, evolution, and fate, and the column-integrated radiative effect
of the aerosol (late March through May 2001). (2) A longer-term network of ground stations that used in situ and column-integrated
measurements to quantify the chemical, physical, and optical properties of aerosols in the ACE-Asia study area and to assess
their spatial and temporal (seasonal and interannual) variability (2000–2003). The approach of the ACE-Asia science team was
to make simultaneous measurements of aerosol chemical, physical, and optical properties and their radiative impacts in a variety
of air masses, often coordinated with satellite overpasses. Three aircraft, two research ships, a network of lidars, and many
surface sites gathered data on Asian aerosols. Chemical transport models (CTMs) were integrated into the program from the
start, being used in a forecast mode during the intensive observation period to identify promising areas for airborne and
ship observations and then later as tools for integrating observations. The testing and improvement of a wide range of aerosol
models (including microphysical, radiative transfer, CTM, and global climate models) was one important way in which we assessed
our understanding of the properties and controlling processes of Asian aerosols. We describe here the scientific goals and
objectives of the ACE-Asia experiment, its observational strategies, the types of observations made by the mobile platforms
and stationary sites, the models that will integrate our understanding of the climatic effect of aerosol particles, and the
types of data that have been generated. Eight scientific questions focus the discussion. The intensive observations took place
during a season of unusually heavy dust, so we have a large suite of observations of dust and its interaction with air pollutants.
Further information about ACE-Asia can be found on the project Web site at
Received 28 February 2003; accepted 17 June 2003; published 14 November 2003.
Citation: (2003), An overview of ACE-Asia: Strategies for quantifying the relationships between Asian aerosols and their climatic impacts, J. Geophys. Res., 108(D23), 8633, doi:10.1029/2003JD003550.
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