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Preliminary Results from an Assimilation of Saharan Dust Using TOMS Radiances and the GOCART ModelAt NASA Goddard we are developing a global aerosol data assimilation system that combines advances in remote sensing and modeling of atmospheric aerosols. The goal is to provide high resolution, 3-D aerosol distributions to the research community. Our first step is to develop a simple assimilation system for Saharan mineral aerosol. The Goddard Chemistry and Aerosol Radiation model (GOCART) provides accurate 3-D mineral aerosol size distributions. Surface mobilization, wet and dry deposition, convective and long-range transport are all driven by assimilated fields from the Goddard Earth Observing System Data Assimilation System, GEOS-DAS. Our version of GOCART transports sizes from .08-10 microns and only simulates Saharan dust. We draw the assimilation to two observables in this study: the TOMS aerosol index (Al) which is directly related to the ratio of the 340 and 380 radiances and the 380 radiance alone. The forward model that simulates the observables requires the aerosol optical thickness, the single scattering albedo and the height of the aerosol layer from the GOCART fields. The forward model also requires a refractive index for the dust. We test three index values to see which best fits the TOMS observables. These are 1) for Saharan dust reported by Patterson, 2) for a mixture of Saharan dust and a highly reflective material (sea salt or sulfate) and 3) for pure illite. The assimilation works best assuming either pure illite or the dust mixture. Our assimilation cycle first determines values of the aerosol index (Al) and the radiance at 380 nm based on the GOCART aerosol fields. Differences between the observed and GOCART model calculated Al and 380 nm radiance are first analyzed horizontally using the Physical-space Statistical Analysis System (PSAS). A quasi-Newton iteration is then performed to produce analyzed 3D aerosol fields according to parameterized background and observation error covariances. We only assimilate observations into the the GOCART model over regions of Africa and the Atlantic where mineral aerosols are dominant and carbonaceous aerosols are minimal.
Document ID
20010051281
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Weaver, C. J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
daSilva, Arlindo
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Ginoux, Paul
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Torres, Omar
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Einaudi, Franco
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2000
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Meeting Information
Meeting: Fall AGU Meeting
Location: San Francisco, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: December 15, 2000
End Date: December 19, 2000
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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