Inferring Polluted Asian Absorbing Aerosol Properties Using Decadal Scale AERONET Measurements and a MIE Model

Abstract

Abstract Absorbing aerosols uniquely impact radiation, aerosol transport, and meteorology. This paper quantifies black carbon core and sulphate shell size and mass using decadal measurements of multi‐spectral aerosol optical depth, single scattering albedo, and angstrom exponent from Aerosol Robotic Network stations located throughout East, Southeast, and South Asia, in connection with a MIE model. All sites are uniquely characterized into four types: urban, biomass burning, long‐range transport, and clean. Unique size and mass probability distributions of both the core and shell are calculated within each classification. Well known urban, biomass burning, and clean sites are all properly identified. Furthermore, two unique sites previously thought to not have multiple characteristics are identified, with urban and biomass burning significant in Beijing and long‐range transport significant in the otherwise clean South China Sea at Taiping Island. It is hoped that these results will allow for advances in attribution and radiative forcing studies.