Abstract
Aerosols play an important role in key atmospheric
processes and feature high spatial and temporal variabilities.
This has motivated scientific interest in the development
of networks capable of measuring aerosol properties
over large geographical areas in near-real time. In this
work we present and discuss results of an aerosol optical
depth (AOD) algorithm applied to instruments of the European
Brewer Network. This network is comprised of close
to 50 Brewer spectrophotometers, mostly located in Europe
and adjacent areas, although instruments operating at, for example,
South America and Australia are also members. Although
we only show results for instruments calibrated by
the Regional Brewer Calibration Center for Europe, the implementation
of the AOD algorithm described is intended to
be used by the whole network in the future. Using data from
the Brewer intercomparison campaigns in the years 2013
and 2015, and the period in between, plus comparisons with
Cimel sun photometers and UVPFR instruments, we check
the precision, stability, and uncertainty of the Brewer AOD
in the ultraviolet range from 300 to 320 nm. Our results show
a precision better than 0.01, an uncertainty of less than 0.05,
and, for well-maintained instruments, a stability similar to
that of the ozone measurements. We also discuss future improvements
to our algorithm with respect to the input data,
their processing, and the characterization of the Brewer instruments
for the measurement of AOD.
processes and feature high spatial and temporal variabilities.
This has motivated scientific interest in the development
of networks capable of measuring aerosol properties
over large geographical areas in near-real time. In this
work we present and discuss results of an aerosol optical
depth (AOD) algorithm applied to instruments of the European
Brewer Network. This network is comprised of close
to 50 Brewer spectrophotometers, mostly located in Europe
and adjacent areas, although instruments operating at, for example,
South America and Australia are also members. Although
we only show results for instruments calibrated by
the Regional Brewer Calibration Center for Europe, the implementation
of the AOD algorithm described is intended to
be used by the whole network in the future. Using data from
the Brewer intercomparison campaigns in the years 2013
and 2015, and the period in between, plus comparisons with
Cimel sun photometers and UVPFR instruments, we check
the precision, stability, and uncertainty of the Brewer AOD
in the ultraviolet range from 300 to 320 nm. Our results show
a precision better than 0.01, an uncertainty of less than 0.05,
and, for well-maintained instruments, a stability similar to
that of the ozone measurements. We also discuss future improvements
to our algorithm with respect to the input data,
their processing, and the characterization of the Brewer instruments
for the measurement of AOD.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 3885-3902 |
Journal | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 20 Mar 2018 |