Published in

American Geophysical Union, Journal of Geophysical Research, D5(111), 2006

DOI: 10.1029/2004jd005734

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Comparison of methods for deriving aerosol asymmetry parameter

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Orange circle
Published version: archiving restricted
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Values for Mie-equivalent aerosol asymmetry parameter (g) were derived using a variety of methods from the large suite of measurements (in situ and remote from surface and aircraft) made in Oklahoma during the 2003 aerosol Intensive Operations Period (IOP). Median values derived for dry asymmetry parameter at 550 nm ranged between 0.55 and 0.63 over all instruments and for all derivation methods, with the exception of one instrument which did not measure over the full size range of optically important aerosol. Median values for the ‘‘wet’’ asymmetry parameter (i.e., asymmetry parameter at humidity conditions closer to ambient) were between 0.59 and 0.72. Values for g derived for surface and airborne in situ measurements were highly correlated, but in situ and remote sensing measurements both at the surface and aloft did not agree as well because of vertical inhomogeneity of the aerosol. Radiative forcing calculations suggest that a 10% decrease in g would result in a 19% reduction in top of atmosphere radiative forcing for the conditions observed during the IOP. Comparison of the different methods for deriving g suggests that in computing the asymmetry parameter, aerosol size is the most important parameter to measure; composition is less important except for how it influences the hygroscopic growth (i.e., size) of particles.