Depolarization ratio retrievals using AERONET sun photometer data

Abstract

We present linear particle depolarization ratios (LPDRs) retrieved from measurements with an AERONET Sun photometer at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Korea (35.10° N, 126.53° E) between 19 October and 3 November 2009. The Sun photometer data were classified into three categories according to Ångström exponent and size distribution: 1) pure Asian dust (19 October 2009), 2) Asian dust mixed with urban pollution observed in the period from 20-26 October 2009, and 3) clean conditions (3 November). We show that the LPDRs can be used to distinguish among Asian dust, mixed aerosol, and non-Asian dust in the atmosphere. The mean LPDR of the pure Asian dust case is 23%. Mean LPDRs are 13% for the mixed case. The lowest mean LPDR is 6% in the clean case. We compare our results to vertically resolved LPDRs (at 532 nm) measured by a Raman LIDAR system at the same site. In most cases, we find good agreement between LPDRs derived with Sun photometer and measured by LIDAR.