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Remote Sensing of Aerosol and Non-Aerosol AbsorptionRemote sensing of aerosol from the new satellite instruments (e.g. MODIS from Terra) and ground based radiometers (e.g. the AERONET) provides the opportunity to measure the absorption characteristics of the ambient undisturbed aerosol in the entire atmospheric column. For example Landsat and AERONET data are used to measure spectral absorption of sunlight by dust from West Africa. Both Application of the Landsat and AERONET data demonstrate that Saharan dust absorption of solar radiation is several times smaller than the current international standards. This is due to difficulties of measuring dust absorption in situ, and due to the often contamination of dust properties by the presence of air pollution or smoke. We use the remotely sensed aerosol absorption properties described by the spectral sin le scattering albedo, together with statistics of the monthly optical thickness for the fine and coarse aerosol derived from the MODIS data. The result is an estimate of the flux of solar radiation absorbed by the aerosol layer in different regions around the globe where aerosol is prevalent. If this aerosol forcing through absorption is not included in global circulation models, it may be interpreted as anomalous absorption in these regions. In a preliminary exercise we also use the absorption measurements by AERONET, to derive the non-aerosol absorption of the atmosphere in cloud free conditions. The results are obtained for the atmospheric windows: 0.44 microns, 0.66 microns, 0.86 microns and 1.05 microns. In all the locations over the land and ocean that were tested no anomalous absorption in these wavelengths, was found within absorption optical thickness of +/- 0.005.
Document ID
20010089249
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Kaufman, Y. J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Dubovik, O.
(Science Systems and Applications, Inc. Greenbelt, MD United States)
Holben, B. N.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Remer, L. A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Tanre, D.
(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique France)
Lau, William K. M.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 31, 2001
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Meeting Information
Meeting: Chapman Conference
Location: Estes Park, CO
Country: United States
Start Date: August 13, 2001
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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