Observations of enhanced aerosol longwave radiative forcing over an urban environment

TitleObservations of enhanced aerosol longwave radiative forcing over an urban environment
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsPanicker, AS, Pandithurai, G, Safai, PD, Kewat, S
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume35
Issue4
PaginationL04817
Date PublishedFEB
ISSN0094-8276
Abstract

Collocated measurements of sun/ sky radiance, aerosol chemical composition and radiative fluxes have been utilized to estimate longwave aerosol radiative forcing over Pune, an Indian urban site during dry winter [Dec2004 to Feb2005] by two methods. Hybrid method which uses observed downwelling and modeled upwelling longwave fluxes for different aerosol loadings yielded a surface forcing of 9.4 Wm(-2). Model approach includes utilization of skyradiometer derived spectral aerosol optical properties in the visible and near infra-red wavelengths, modeled aerosol properties in 1.2-40 mu m using observed soot and chemical composition data, MODIS water vapor and TOMS column ozone in a radiative transfer model. Estimates from model method showed longwave enhancement of 6.5 and 8.2Wm(-2) at the surface with tropical model atmosphere and temporally varying profiles of temperature and humidity, respectively. Study reveals that about 25% of the aerosol shortwave cooling is being compensated by increase in longwave radiation due to aerosol absorption.

DOI10.1029/2007GL032879
Type of Journal (Indian or Foreign)Foreign
Impact Factor (IF)3.505
Divison category: 
Physical and Materials Chemistry