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This study presents an update on the validation of the OMI near-UV aerosol product and explores its potential for climate-related studies. The results show the performance of the OMI algorithm in estimating aerosol absorption, providing valuable data for understanding aerosol-cloud interactions and their effects on climate.
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A four year record of Aerosol Absorption measurements from OMI near UV observations Omar Torres Department of Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences Hampton University, Hampton, Va, 23668 Changwoo Ahn SSAI, Inc, Lanham, MD, USA Santiago Gasso GEST Center University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD • Outline: • An update on validation of C3 product • The emerging OMI record on aerosol absorption • -Use of OMI near UV aerosol product in climate-related studies OMI Science Team Meeting Finland, Helsinki June 24-27, 2008
Evaluation of extinction AOT using AERONET observations (absorbing aerosols) Under miminum sub-pixel cloud contamination conditions the OMI near-UV algorithm (OMAERUV) performs reasonably well.
Evaluation of extinction AOT using AERONET observations (non-absorbing aerosols) Retrievals of non-absorbing aerosols are significantly noisier. Overestimates and underestaimates are associated to the OMI large footprint.
OMAERUV-Aeronet Comparison Monthly Averages Non-absorbing aerosols Absorbing Aerosols Noise level significantly reduced when comparing monthly averaged data
Assessment of OMI Aerosol Absorption Product Comparison to AERONET Retrievals (Africa) (Brazil) RMS=0.03 Absorption by Brazilian and African Savanna smoke
Seasonal Averages of Aerosol Absorption (OMI 2006) Single Scattering Albedo DJF MAM JJA SON Absorption Optical Depth
Combined TOMS-OMI Record on Aerosol Absorption (Preliminary Results) Larger OMI values are the result of algorithmic differences. TOMS record will be re-processed using OMI algorithm
OMI Multiyear record on Aerosol Absorption: A Regional Analysis Western Europe Eastern Europe Solid line: 388 nm Aerosol Extinction Optical Depth (AOD)/10. Dashed line: 388 nm Aerosol Absorption Optical Depth
OMI Multiyear record on Aerosol Absorption: A Regional Analysis Southeast United States
OMI Multiyear record on Aerosol Absorption: A Regional Analysis Central Africa Brazil
Aerosol- cloud Interaction Figure from Keil & Haywood (JGR, 108, 2003) The relative vertical distribution of absorbing aerosol and clouds determines the net aerosol radiative forcing effect
Use of OMI near UV aerosol product for climate studies OMI Aerosol Index OMI’s near UV capability to detect absorbing aerosols over clouds is an excellent tool for the study of aerosol-cloud interactions: -Direct Effect -Semi-direct effect
Direct forcing effect of aerosols over clouds 0.90 0.86 TOA forcing (Wm-2) 0.93 Cloud fraction SAFARI 2000 September Keil and Haywood, JGR,2003 The net radiative forcing effect of absorbing aerosols changes from cooling over cloud-free conditions to warming over cloudy scenes.
The semi-direct aerosol effect • Absorbing aerosols may reduce low cloud cover • This would warm the climate as low clouds scatter solar radiation back to space. • Aerosols absorb solar • radiation • Evaporation of the cloud! Absorbing aerosols in and around a cloud
Direct Radiative Forcing Effect of Absorbing Aerosols as seen by the A-train April 14, 2006 Aura-OMI Aqua-CERES Shortwave TOA Flux Aerosol Index Reduced levels of SW Flux are observed in the CERES data associated with the presence of absorbing aerosols as indicated by OMI data
Global Distribution of Stratocumulus Clouds Associated with cool ocean surfaces & subtropical anticyclones.
Summary OMI near UV algorithm performing reasonably well in spite of instrumental limitations. Best results obtained over arid and semi-arid regions where sub-pixel cloud contamination is minimum. The emerging multi-year OMI data set extends the TOMS record on aerosol Absorption. Work is needed to homogenize the combined TOMS-OMI record. Future Work -Integration of observations by other A-train sensors (Calipso, Modis) to improve accuracy of retrieval products. -New near-UV algorithm to retrieve aerosol absorption in the presence of clouds. -Reprocessing of TOMS and OMI records (same algorithm). -Evaluation of direct effect of absorbing aerosols over clouds. -Evaluation of semi-direct effect.