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Developing and Diagnosing Climate Change Indicators of Regional Aerosol Optical PropertiesGiven the importance of aerosol particles to radiative transfer via aerosol-radiation interactions, a methodology for tracking and diagnosing causes of temporal changes in regional-scale aerosol populations is illustrated. The aerosol optical properties tracked include estimates of total columnar burden (aerosol optical depth, AOD), dominant size mode (Ångström exponent, AE), and relative magnitude of radiation scattering versus absorption (single scattering albedo, SSA), along with metrics of the structure of the spatial field of these properties. Over well-defined regions of North America, there are generally negative temporal trends in mean and extreme AOD, and SSA. These are consistent with lower aerosol burdens and transition towards a relatively absorbing aerosol, driven primarily by declining sulfur dioxide emissions. Conversely, more remote regions are characterized by increasing mean and extreme AOD that is attributed to increased local wildfire emissions and long-range (transcontinental) transport. Regional and national reductions in anthropogenic emissions of aerosol precursors are leading to declining spatial autocorrelation in the aerosol fields and increased importance of local anthropogenic emissions in dictating aerosol burdens. However, synoptic types associated with high aerosol burdens are intensifying (becoming more warm and humid), and thus changes in synoptic meteorology may be offsetting aerosol burden reductions associated with emissions legislation.
Document ID
20180004335
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Accepted Manuscript (Version with final changes)
Authors
Ryan C Sullivan
(Cornell University Ithaca, New York, United States)
Robert C Levy
(Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland, United States)
Arlindo M Da Silva
(Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland, United States)
Sara C Pryor
(Cornell University Ithaca, New York, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2018
Publication Date
December 22, 2017
Publication Information
Publication: Scientific Reports
Publisher: Nature Research
Volume: 7
Issue Publication Date: December 22, 2017
e-ISSN: 2045-2322
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN53273
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX14AP56H
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX16AG31G
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Use by or on behalf of the US Gov. Permitted.
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