Unusual high values of aerosol optical depth evidenced in the Arctic during summer 2011

• Published in: Atmospheric environment (1994) Vol. 94; pp. 606 - 615
• Main Authors: Rahul, P.R.C., Sonbawne, S.M., Devara, P.C.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aerosol optical depth; Arctic; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Meteorology; Particles and aerosols; polar regions; Svalbard; Arctic region; Norway, Svalbard, Spitsbergen; Norway, Svalbard, Spitsbergen, Hornsund; PNE, Norway, Svalbard, Spitsbergen; PN, Arctic; Norway, Svalbard, Spitsbergen, Ny-Aalesund; Arctic; Aerosol optical depth; optical properties; Particle size distribution; aerosols; Backward trajectory; Summer; Measurement campaign; Polar region; Optical thickness; Measuring network; Long-range transport
• ISSN: 1352-2310; 1873-2844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.01.052

Climatologically, high Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD500 nm) >0.1 during spring and very low AODs (∼0.05) during the summer months persist over the Arctic. Unusually high values of AOD are unknown to be observed during Arctic summers; however using MICROTOPS II, we report AOD500 nm values >0.1 at Ny-Ålesund (78.9°N, 11.9°E), Spitsbergen, Arctic, during June and July 2011. The AODs derived from the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) at Hornsund (77.0°N, 15.5°E) (close to Ny-Ålesund) also revealed AOD values more than 0.1 during June and July 2011. The size distribution analysis revealed dominance of fine mode particles in June 2011, and fine and coarse mode particles in July 2011. The HYSPLIT trajectories and NCEP wind anomalies showed that these fine and coarse mode particles were a result of long range transport from landmasses around the Arctic.
•Observational evidence of high AOD's during summer.•Enhanced loading of fine mode particles lead to this high AOD.•AERONET, NCEP and HYSPLIT profiles confirm the high AOD's.