Quantifying above-cloud aerosol using spaceborne lidar for improved understanding of cloudy-sky direct climate forcing

Chand, D; Anderson, T; Wood, R; Charlson, R; Hu, Y; Liu, Z; Vaughan, M

HERO ID

189974

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2008

HERO ID 189974
In Press No
Year 2008
Title Quantifying above-cloud aerosol using spaceborne lidar for improved understanding of cloudy-sky direct climate forcing
Authors Chand, D; Anderson, T; Wood, R; Charlson, R; Hu, Y; Liu, Z; Vaughan, M
Journal Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume 113
Issue D13
Page Numbers D13206
Abstract [1] Estimates of global mean direct climate forcing by absorbing aerosols located above boundary layer clouds are large, uncertain, and almost entirely unconstrained by observations. Spaceborne lidar offers a new opportunity for global constraints. Here we examine techniques for using liquid water clouds as lidar targets, allowing aerosol optical depth and Angstrom exponent to be deduced directly from aerosol effects on light transmission. Two such techniques are examined using data from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO). The first is a previously reported method based on measurements of cloud depolarization ratio (DR) at 532-nm wavelength. The second is a new method using measurements of cloud color ratio (CR), which is the ratio of the signal from the cloud at 1064 nm to that at 532 nm. Optical depth retrievals from these two methods compare favorably over the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean during August 2006, when biomass burning aerosols are frequently advected over marine stratiform clouds. The CR technique is mainly sensitive to fine-mode aerosols and essentially insensitive to clouds and coarse-mode dust. Because anthropogenic aerosol is predominantly found in the fine mode, the CR technique can be used to help identify situations where anthropogenic cloudy-sky direct radiative forcing is occurring. We demonstrate this capability using 6 months data over the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean.
Doi 10.1029/2007JD009433
Wosid WOS:000257431800005
Url http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2008/2007JD009433.shtml
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments Source: Web of Science WOS:000257431800005 Journal:JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES 2169-897X
Is Public Yes
Is Qa No