Seasonal variations in aerosol optical properties over China

Abstract

Seasonal variations in background aerosol optical depth (AOD) and aerosol type are investigated over various ecosystems in China based upon three years' worth of meteorological data and data collected by the Chinese Sun Hazemeter Network. In most parts of China, AODs are at a maximum in spring or summer and at a minimum in autumn or winter. Minimum values (0.10~0.20) of annual mean AOD at 500 nm are found in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the remote northeast corner of China, the northern forest ecosystems and Hainan Island. Annual mean AOD ranges from 0.25 to 0.30 over desert and oasis areas, as well as the desertification grasslands in northern China; the annual mean AOD over the Loess Plateau is moderately high at 0.36. Regions where the highest density of agricultural and industrial activities are located and where anthropogenic sulphate aerosol and soil aerosol emissions are consistently high throughout the whole year (e.g., the central-eastern, southern and eastern coastal regions of China) experience annual mean AODs ranging from 0.50~0.80.

Citation

Wang, Yuesi; Xin, Jinyuan; Li, Zhanqing; Wang, Shigong; Wang, Pucai; Hao, Wei Min; Nordgren, Bryce L.; Chen, Hongbin; Wang, Lili; Sun, Yang. 2012. Seasonal variations in aerosol optical properties over China. Journal of Geophysical Research. 116: D18209.