Study on aerosol properties over Madrid (Spain) by multiple instrumentation during SPALI10 lidar campaign

Abstract

Understanding the effect of aerosols upon radiative forcing requires information about vertical profiles. Lidar techniques represent a powerful tool for studies of the vertical structure of the aerosol field. During the SPAin Lidar Intercomparison 2010 (SPALI10) campaign, several multiwavelength Raman lidar systems measured simultaneously in order to assess their performances. Multiwavelength lidars can provide relevant vertically-resolved information on aerosol optical properties because the wavelength dependence of the backscatter and extinction coefficients allows for a more detailed discrimination of aerosol types. Several lidar stations belonging to SPALINET, the Spanish and Portuguese Lidar NETwork and also EARLINET, the European Aerosol Research Lidar NETwork, intercompared during a campaign that took place in Madrid from 18 October to 5 November 2010. The products provided by the lidar systems were compared with ancillary data. At ground level, aerosol size distribution was continuously monitored. Additionally, the column-integrated characterization of the atmospheric aerosol was performed by means of a sun photometer. The extensive dataset obtained during SPALI10 field campaign enables to compare ground-level in-situ measurements with remote sensing techniques to determine vertically-resolved optical and microphysical properties of aerosols. Several relevant features shown in the comparison of the results obtained by the different instruments are discussed in this work.

Understanding the effect of aerosols upon radiative forcing requires information about vertical profiles. Lidar techniques represent a powerful tool for studies of the vertical structure of the aerosol field. During the SPAin Lidar Intercomparison 2010 (SPALI10) campaign, several multiwavelength Raman lidar systems measured simultaneously in order to assess their performances. Multiwavelength lidars can provide relevant vertically-resolved information on aerosol optical properties because the wavelength dependence of the backscatter and extinction coefficients allows for a more detailed discrimination of aerosol types. Several lidar stations belonging to SPALINET, the Spanish and Portuguese Lidar NETwork and also EARLINET, the European Aerosol Research Lidar NETwork, intercompared during a campaign that took place in Madrid from 18 October to 5 November 2010. The products provided by the lidar systems were compared with ancillary data. At ground level, aerosol size distribution was continuously monitored. Additionally, the column-integrated characterization of the atmospheric aerosol was performed by means of a sun photometer. The extensive dataset obtained during SPALI10 field campaign enables to compare ground-level in-situ measurements with remote sensing techniques to determine vertically-resolved optical and microphysical properties of aerosols. Several relevant features shown in the comparison of the results obtained by the different instruments are discussed in this work.