Atmospheric Measurement Techniques Discussions www.atmos-meas-tech-discuss.net 1867-8610 3 1 2010 10.5194/amtd-3-111-2010 http://www.atmos-meas-tech-discuss.net/3/111/2010/ http://www.atmos-meas-tech-discuss.net/3/111/2010/amtd-3-111-2010.html http://www.atmos-meas-tech-discuss.net/3/111/2010/amtd-3-111-2010.pdf 111 145 2010-01-07 Multiple wavelength retrieval of tropospheric aerosol optical properties from MAXDOAS measurements in Beijing K. Clémer katrijn.clemer@aeronomie.be M. Van Roozendael C. Fayt F. Hendrick C. Hermans G. Pinardi R. Spurr P. Wang M. De Mazière BIRA-IASB, Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, Brussels, Belgium RT Solutions Inc., Cambridge MA, USA IAP/CAS, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China We report on the retrieval of aerosol extinction profiles at four wavelengths from ground-based multi-axis differential absorption spectroscopy (MAXDOAS) measurements performed in Beijing (N 39&deg;58'37" E 116&deg;22'51"), China. Measurements were made over a 10-month time period (June 2008 to April 2009) using a newly developed MAXDOAS instrument. A retrieval algorithm, based on an on-line implementation of the radiative transfer code LIDORT and the optimal estimation technique, has been designed to provide near real time information on aerosol extinction vertical profiles. The algorithm was applied to O₄ measurements at four wavelengths (360, 477, 577, and 630 nm). The total aerosol optical depths (AODs) calculated from the retrieved profiles exhibit higher values in spring and summer and lower values in autumn and winter. Comparison of the retrieved total AODs with values from a co-located CIMEL sunphotometer revealed a good correlation. The best results are obtained for the UV region with a correlation coefficient (<i>R</i>) of 0.91 and a slope of the linear regression fit of 1.1. At the longest wavelength, <i>R</i> drops down to 0.67 and the slope increases to 1.5. 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