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www.atmos-meas-tech-discuss.net/5/589/2012/
doi:10.5194/amtd-5-589-2012
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Multi-wavelength Raman lidar, sunphotometric and aircraft measurements in combination with inversion models for the estimation of the aerosol optical and physico-chemical properties over Athens, Greece
1National Technical University of Athens, Laser Remote Sensing Laboratory, Athens, Greece
2Nat. Obs. of Athens, Institute for Space Applications and Remote Sensing, Athens, Greece
3Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, Leipzig, Germany
4Atmospheric Remote Sensing Laboratory, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju, South Korea
5Democritus Univ. Thrace, Department of Environmental Engineering, Xanthi, Greece
6Georgia Inst. of Techn., School of Earth and Atm. Sc. and Chem. & Biomolecular Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA
7Institute of Chemical Engineering and High-Temperature Chemical Processes, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Patras, Greece
8Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, I. Metaxa and Vas. Pavlou, 15236, P. Penteli, Athens, Greece
9National Technical University of Athens, School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, Zografou, Greece
Abstract. A novel procedure has been developed to retrieve, simultaneously, the optical, microphysical and chemical properties of tropospheric aerosols with a multi-wavelength Raman lidar system in the troposphere over an urban site (Athens, Greece: 37.9° N, 23.6° E, 200 m a.s.l.) using data obtained during the European Space Agency (ESA) THERMOPOLIS project which took place between 15–31 July 2009 over the Greater Athens Area (GAA). We selected to apply our procedure for a case study of intense aerosol layers occurred on 20–21 July 2009. The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) EOLE 6-wavelength Raman lidar system has been used to provide the vertical profiles of the optical properties of aerosols (extinction and backscatter coefficients, lidar ratio) and the water vapor mixing ratio. An inversion algorithm was used to derive the mean aerosol microphysical properties (mean effective radius – reff), single-scattering albedo (ω) and mean complex refractive index (m) at selected heights in the 2–3 km height region. We found that reff was 0.3–0.4 μm, ω at 532 nm ranged from 0.63 to 0.88 and m ranged from 1.45 + 0.015i to 1.56 + 0.05i, in good accordance with in situ aircraft measurements. The final data set of the aerosol microphysical properties along with the water vapor and temperature profiles were incorporated into the ISORROPIA model to infer an in situ aerosol composition consistent with the retrieved m and ω values. The retrieved aerosol chemical composition in the 2–3 km height region gave a variable range of sulfate (0–60%) and organic carbon (OC) content (0–50%), although the OC content increased (up to 50%) and the sulfate content dropped (up to 30%) around 3 km height; in connection with the retrieved low ω value (0.63), indicates the presence of absorbing biomass burning smoke mixed with urban haze. Finally, the retrieved aerosol microphysical properties were compared with column-integrated sunphotometer data.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 1125 KB) Interactive Discussion (Final Response, 3 Comments) Manuscript under review for AMT
Citation: Mamouri, R. E., Papayannis, A., Amiridis, V., Müller, D., Kokkalis, P., Rapsomanikis, S., Karageorgos, E. T., Tsaknakis, G., Nenes, A., Kazadzis, S., and Remoundaki, E.: Multi-wavelength Raman lidar, sunphotometric and aircraft measurements in combination with inversion models for the estimation of the aerosol optical and physico-chemical properties over Athens, Greece, Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., 5, 589-625, doi:10.5194/amtd-5-589-2012, 2012. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager XML
