Knowledge of the spectral behavior of aerosol optical depth (AOD) over the solar spectrum is required for realistic estimates of aerosol radiative forcing. To describe this behavior over an extended period, individual AOD records provided by several co-located ground-based instruments with different design and operation characteristics need to be combined. There are three main challenges associated with such combining; these stem from differences between the instruments in terms of: (1) data quality, (2) continuity, and (3) the measurement wavelengths of each instrument . The first two challenges have been addressed successfully using our approach (Kassianov et al., 2021). Here we demonstrate how the third challenge can be addressed to generate combined AODs at different wavelengths. In particular, we consider generation of the combined AODs at five wavelengths (415, 500, 615, 673, 870 nm) for a 21-year period (1997-2018) using individual AOD records obtained from four instruments deployed at a US continental site. We also discuss wavelength-dependent uncertainties of the generated AODs and future applications of this extended approach for different sets of wavelengths and locations.
Kassianov, E., Cromwell, E., Monroe, J. et al. Harmonized and high-quality datasets of aerosol optical depth at a US continental site, 1997–2018. Sci Data 8, 82 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-021-00866-2
Long-term records of aerosol optical depth (AOD) with high quality, suitable temporal continuity and spatial coverage are of immense interest to climate-related research activities. Both satellite- and ground-based measurements of AOD are typically provided by instruments with different designs, and distinct data acquisition and processing schemes. Thus, the corresponding AOD records likely have different accuracy, spatial coverage, and temporal resolution. Several studies have been focused on the synergy of multi-sensor satellite AOD products. Here we combine multi-year (1997-2018) AOD records available from four collocated ground-based instruments deployed at the mid-continental Southern Great Plains (SGP) Central Facility supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program. We demonstrate how to minimize drawbacks (patchy spots) and to maintain benefits (high quality) of these records. Our demonstration finds a combined AOD obtained at two wavelengths (500 and 870 nm), with high temporal resolution (1-min), and provides the user with an estimate of the AOD uncertainty. Finally, we highlight expected applications of the merged dataset and its future extensions.
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