Aerosol Radiative properties over the Eastern North Pacific based on Measurements from the MAGIC Field Campaign

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Description

During the MAGIC field campaign measurements were made of aerosol scattering with a nephelometer, at three wavelengths in two size ranges, and of aerosol optical depth with an fast rotating shadowband radiometer (FRSR) at multiple wavelengths. Additionally, radiosondes were launched every six hours, allowed for determination of marine boundary layer (MBL) height. The comparison of light-scattering coefficient determined by the nephelometer with the aerosol optical depth, taking into account the MBL height, can potentially yield information on the extent of mixing of the aerosol particles. Two situations might be encountered for which the aerosol particles are not well mixed throughout the MBL. First, larger particles might not be entrained upward throughout the MBL because of their gravitational sedimentation. The extent to which large particles dominate the scattering can be determined by the difference in scattering coefficients between the larger size cut and the smaller size cut measured by the nephelometer. Second, when the stratocumulus regime is undergoing a transition to a cumulus regime, there may be a decoupling between the lower and lower regions of the MBL. This situation can be identified using the radiosonde data. This comparison will provide information on the extent to which surface measurements are representative of those throughout the column, and thus the extent to which remote sensing from satellites can be used to determine surface properties.