WRF-Chem simulations of a typical pre-monsoon dust storm in northern India: influences on aerosol optical properties and radiation budget
The impact of a typical pre-monsoon season (April–June) dust storm event on the regional aerosol optical properties and radiation budget in northern India is analyzed. The dust storm event lasted from 17 to 22 April 2010 and the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem...
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doaj-7aa48b0af76840dc85a4e9a1402430e62020-11-25T00:07:03ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242014-03-011452431244610.5194/acp-14-2431-2014WRF-Chem simulations of a typical pre-monsoon dust storm in northern India: influences on aerosol optical properties and radiation budgetR. Kumar0M. C. Barth1G. G. Pfister2M. Naja3G. P. Brasseur4Advanced Study Program, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USAAtmospheric Chemistry Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USAAtmospheric Chemistry Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USAAryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Nainital, IndiaAdvanced Study Program, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USAThe impact of a typical pre-monsoon season (April–June) dust storm event on the regional aerosol optical properties and radiation budget in northern India is analyzed. The dust storm event lasted from 17 to 22 April 2010 and the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) estimated total dust emissions of 7.5 Tg over the model domain. Both in situ (AERONET – Aerosol Robotic Network) and satellite observations show significant increase (> 50%) in local to regional scale aerosol optical depth (AOD) and decrease (> 70%) in the Ångström exponent (α) during this period. Amongst the AERONET sites in this region, Kanpur was influenced the most, where the AOD reached up to 2.1 and the α decreased to −0.09 during the dust storm period. The WRF-Chem model reproduced the spatial and temporal distributions of dust plumes and aerosol optical properties but generally underestimated the AOD. The average MODIS and WRF-Chem AOD (550 nm) values in a subregion (70–80° E, 25–30° N) affected the most by the dust storm are estimated as 0.80 ± 0.30 and 0.68 ± 0.28, respectively. Model results show that dust particles cool the surface and the top of the atmosphere, but warm the atmosphere itself. The radiative perturbation due to dust aerosols averaged over the subregion is estimated as −2.9 ± 3.1 W m<sup>−2</sup> at the top of the atmosphere, 5.1 ± 3.3 W m<sup>−2</sup> in the atmosphere and −8.0 ± 3.3 W m<sup>−2</sup> at the surface. The simulated instantaneous cooling under the dust plume was much higher and reached −227 and −70 W m<sup>−2</sup> at the surface and the top of the atmosphere, respectively. The impact of these radiative perturbations on the surface energy budget is estimated to be small on a regional scale but significant locally.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/2431/2014/acp-14-2431-2014.pdf |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
R. Kumar M. C. Barth G. G. Pfister M. Naja G. P. Brasseur |
spellingShingle |
R. Kumar M. C. Barth G. G. Pfister M. Naja G. P. Brasseur WRF-Chem simulations of a typical pre-monsoon dust storm in northern India: influences on aerosol optical properties and radiation budget Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
author_facet |
R. Kumar M. C. Barth G. G. Pfister M. Naja G. P. Brasseur |
author_sort |
R. Kumar |
title |
WRF-Chem simulations of a typical pre-monsoon dust storm in northern India: influences on aerosol optical properties and radiation budget |
title_short |
WRF-Chem simulations of a typical pre-monsoon dust storm in northern India: influences on aerosol optical properties and radiation budget |
title_full |
WRF-Chem simulations of a typical pre-monsoon dust storm in northern India: influences on aerosol optical properties and radiation budget |
title_fullStr |
WRF-Chem simulations of a typical pre-monsoon dust storm in northern India: influences on aerosol optical properties and radiation budget |
title_full_unstemmed |
WRF-Chem simulations of a typical pre-monsoon dust storm in northern India: influences on aerosol optical properties and radiation budget |
title_sort |
wrf-chem simulations of a typical pre-monsoon dust storm in northern india: influences on aerosol optical properties and radiation budget |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
series |
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
issn |
1680-7316 1680-7324 |
publishDate |
2014-03-01 |
description |
The impact of a typical pre-monsoon season (April–June) dust storm event on
the regional aerosol optical properties and radiation budget in northern
India is analyzed. The dust storm event lasted from 17 to 22 April 2010 and
the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem)
estimated total dust emissions of 7.5 Tg over the model domain. Both in situ
(AERONET – Aerosol Robotic Network) and satellite observations show
significant increase (> 50%) in local to regional scale
aerosol optical depth (AOD) and decrease (> 70%) in the
Ångström exponent (α) during this period. Amongst the AERONET
sites in this region, Kanpur was influenced the most, where the AOD reached
up to 2.1 and the α decreased to −0.09 during the dust storm
period. The WRF-Chem model reproduced the spatial and temporal distributions
of dust plumes and aerosol optical properties but generally underestimated
the AOD. The average MODIS and WRF-Chem AOD (550 nm) values in a subregion
(70–80° E, 25–30° N) affected the most by the dust storm
are estimated as 0.80 ± 0.30 and 0.68 ± 0.28, respectively. Model
results show that dust particles cool the surface and the top of the
atmosphere, but warm the atmosphere itself. The radiative perturbation due to
dust aerosols averaged over the subregion is estimated as
−2.9 ± 3.1 W m<sup>−2</sup> at the top of the atmosphere,
5.1 ± 3.3 W m<sup>−2</sup> in the atmosphere and
−8.0 ± 3.3 W m<sup>−2</sup> at the surface. The simulated instantaneous
cooling under the dust plume was much higher and reached −227 and
−70 W m<sup>−2</sup> at the surface and the top of the atmosphere,
respectively. The impact of these radiative perturbations on the surface
energy budget is estimated to be small on a regional scale but significant
locally. |
url |
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/2431/2014/acp-14-2431-2014.pdf |
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