Comparing multiple model-derived aerosol optical properties to spatially collocated ground-based and satellite measurements

Anthropogenic aerosols are a key factor governing Earth's climate and play a central role in human-caused climate change. However, because of aerosols' complex physical, optical, and dynamical properties, aerosols are one of the most uncertain aspects of climate modeling. Fortunately, aero...

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Main Authors: I. B. Ocko, P. A. Ginoux
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2017-04-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/17/4451/2017/acp-17-4451-2017.pdf
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spelling doaj-4ba5c7db60f14478aa4da151ea85d3042020-11-25T00:29:55ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242017-04-011774451447510.5194/acp-17-4451-2017Comparing multiple model-derived aerosol optical properties to spatially collocated ground-based and satellite measurementsI. B. Ocko0P. A. Ginoux1Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Program, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USANOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USAAnthropogenic aerosols are a key factor governing Earth's climate and play a central role in human-caused climate change. However, because of aerosols' complex physical, optical, and dynamical properties, aerosols are one of the most uncertain aspects of climate modeling. Fortunately, aerosol measurement networks over the past few decades have led to the establishment of long-term observations for numerous locations worldwide. Further, the availability of datasets from several different measurement techniques (such as ground-based and satellite instruments) can help scientists increasingly improve modeling efforts. This study explores the value of evaluating several model-simulated aerosol properties with data from spatially collocated instruments. We compare aerosol optical depth (AOD; total, scattering, and absorption), single-scattering albedo (SSA), Ångström exponent (<i>α</i>), and extinction vertical profiles in two prominent global climate models (Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, GFDL, CM2.1 and CM3) to seasonal observations from collocated instruments (AErosol RObotic NETwork, AERONET, and Cloud–Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization, CALIOP) at seven polluted and biomass burning regions worldwide. We find that a multi-parameter evaluation provides key insights on model biases, data from collocated instruments can reveal underlying aerosol-governing physics, column properties wash out important vertical distinctions, and <q>improved</q> models does not mean all aspects are improved. We conclude that it is important to make use of all available data (parameters and instruments) when evaluating aerosol properties derived by models.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/17/4451/2017/acp-17-4451-2017.pdf
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author I. B. Ocko
P. A. Ginoux
spellingShingle I. B. Ocko
P. A. Ginoux
Comparing multiple model-derived aerosol optical properties to spatially collocated ground-based and satellite measurements
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
author_facet I. B. Ocko
P. A. Ginoux
author_sort I. B. Ocko
title Comparing multiple model-derived aerosol optical properties to spatially collocated ground-based and satellite measurements
title_short Comparing multiple model-derived aerosol optical properties to spatially collocated ground-based and satellite measurements
title_full Comparing multiple model-derived aerosol optical properties to spatially collocated ground-based and satellite measurements
title_fullStr Comparing multiple model-derived aerosol optical properties to spatially collocated ground-based and satellite measurements
title_full_unstemmed Comparing multiple model-derived aerosol optical properties to spatially collocated ground-based and satellite measurements
title_sort comparing multiple model-derived aerosol optical properties to spatially collocated ground-based and satellite measurements
publisher Copernicus Publications
series Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
issn 1680-7316
1680-7324
publishDate 2017-04-01
description Anthropogenic aerosols are a key factor governing Earth's climate and play a central role in human-caused climate change. However, because of aerosols' complex physical, optical, and dynamical properties, aerosols are one of the most uncertain aspects of climate modeling. Fortunately, aerosol measurement networks over the past few decades have led to the establishment of long-term observations for numerous locations worldwide. Further, the availability of datasets from several different measurement techniques (such as ground-based and satellite instruments) can help scientists increasingly improve modeling efforts. This study explores the value of evaluating several model-simulated aerosol properties with data from spatially collocated instruments. We compare aerosol optical depth (AOD; total, scattering, and absorption), single-scattering albedo (SSA), Ångström exponent (<i>α</i>), and extinction vertical profiles in two prominent global climate models (Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, GFDL, CM2.1 and CM3) to seasonal observations from collocated instruments (AErosol RObotic NETwork, AERONET, and Cloud–Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization, CALIOP) at seven polluted and biomass burning regions worldwide. We find that a multi-parameter evaluation provides key insights on model biases, data from collocated instruments can reveal underlying aerosol-governing physics, column properties wash out important vertical distinctions, and <q>improved</q> models does not mean all aspects are improved. We conclude that it is important to make use of all available data (parameters and instruments) when evaluating aerosol properties derived by models.
url http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/17/4451/2017/acp-17-4451-2017.pdf
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