Biomass burning and volcanic ash characterization at Centro de Investigaciones en Láseres y Aplicaciones, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

Biomass burning events and volcanic ash transport measurements from a multi-wavelength backscatter LIDAR at Centro de Investigaciones en Láseres y Aplicaciones, CEILAP (CITEDEF-CONICET), (34.5° S, 58.5° W), Buenos Aires, Argentina are studied to characterize their optical properties. The lidar system operating at this place has the first three harmonics of a Nd:YAG laser and collects Raman returns from nitrogen and water vapor. Different aerosol layers were separated from the total acquisition and studied alone to characterize their optical properties at different wavelengths. Intended products are the backscatter coefficient and the color ratio. In addition a comparison between layers is performed, trying to determine their similarity. This method has the final goal of parameterizing the basic parameters of biomass burning originated aerosols and volcanic ashes transported over important distances.