Modelling of aerosol vertical distribution during a spring season at Gwangju, Korea

Abstract

The vertical distributions of aerosol extinction coefficient were estimated using the scaling height retrieved at Gwangju, Korea (35.23°N, 126.84°E) during a spring season (March to May) of 2009. The aerosol scaling heights were calculated on a basis of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) and the surface visibilities. During the observation period, the scaling heights varied between 3.55 km and 0.39 km. The retrieved vertical profiles of extinction coefficient from these scaling heights were compared with extinction profile derived from the Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) observation. The retrieve vertical profiles of aerosol extinction coefficient were categorized into three classes according to the values of AODs and the surface visibilities: (Case I) the AODs and the surface visibilities are measured as both high, (Case II) the AODs and the surface visibilities are both lower, and (Others) the others. The averaged scaling heights for the three cases were 3.09± 0.46 km, 0.82±0.27 km, and 1.46±0.57 km, respectively. For Case I, differences between the vertical profile retrieved from the scaling height and the LIDAR observation was highest. Because aerosols in Case I are considered as dust-dominant, uplifted dust above planetary boundary layer (PBL) was influenced this discrepancy. However, for the Case II and other cases, the modelled vertical aerosol extinction profiles from the scaling heights are in good agreement with the results from the LIDAR observation. Although limitation in the current modelling of vertical structure of aerosols exists for aerosol layers above PBL, the results are promising to assess aerosol profile without high-cost instruments.