Aerosol Characteristics over Bay of Bengal During W-ICARB Cruise Campaign
Abstract
Detailed observations of aerosol optical and physical properties were carried out to study variability at the sea surface, along vertical profiles and total column during the Winter-Integrated Campaign on Aerosols, Gases and Radiation Budget (W-ICARB) from 27 December 2008 to 30 January 2009 in the Bay of Bengal (BoB). The results show large heterogeneity in aerosol load and characteristics; dominance of anthropogenic aerosols over the northern BoB, along the eastern Indian coast and in Far East BoB region and higher fraction of coarse-mode aerosols over the southern parts of BoB. The aerosols over the area are highly influenced by the Indian continental outflow and the biomass burning in the Southeast Asia. On the other hand, the larger fraction of coarse-mode aerosols over the southern BoB is closely associated with intense sea-surface winds producing coarse-mode sea-salt aerosols. The vertical profiles of aerosols obtained via CALIPSO data also exhibit considerable vertical heterogeneities.
Keywords
Aerosol Optical Depth Aerosol Layer Spectral Aerosol Optical Depth CALIPSO Observation Indian Space Research Organization Geosphere Biosphere ProgramNotes
Acknowledgments
The authors are thankful to Director, NRSC and Dy. Director (RS&GIS-AA) for necessary help at various stages and ISRO-GBP via W-ICARB project for funding support. We also thank the Department of Ocean Development for giving the opportunity to conduct measurements on board Sagar Kanya.
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