Comparative analysis of temperature inversion and influences of aerosols using ARM data in Shouxian and SGP

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Description

Low-level atmospheric temperature inversions frequently occurred at middle and high latitudes, and their heights are commonly lower than 700 hpa. They influence the depth of vertical mixing in the boundary layer, cloud formation, aerosol transport, and surface radiation balance. In 2008, the ARM Mobile Facility (AMF) was deployed in China, and acquired high temporal and spatial resolution radiosonde data at Shouxian for nearly eight months. Through statistical analysis of radiosonde and aerosol data, we obtained statistical characteristics and monthly variation of temperature inversions and aerosols in Shouxian. We also analyzed the temperature inversions and aerosols using ARM data obtained at SGP during the same period. The results show that: (1) temperature inversion frequency in Shouxian is less than that of SGP, but Shouxian’ inversions are more frequent in high altitude, (2) the layer of inversion near ground at Shouxian is thinner than that of SGP, and the rate of inversion temperature increased at Shouxian is greater, and (3) surface-based inversions directly affect aerosols transport and resulted in high concentrations of aerosols at both sites. At noon, the frequency of temperature inversions in Shouxian and SGP were 42% and 62%, respectively, under the clear-sky conditions, their heights near 2000 m.