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Long-term variations of aerosol optical depth and aerosol radiative forcing over Iran based on satellite and AERONET data

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Abstract

In this study, three different sensors of satellites including the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR), and Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) were used to study spatial and temporal variations of aerosols over ten populated cities in Iran. Also, the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model was used for analyzing the origins of air masses and their trajectory in the area. An increasing trend in aerosol concentration was observed in the most studied cities in Iran during 1979–2016. The cities in the western part of Iran had the highest annual mean of aerosol concentration. The highest aerosol optical depth (AOD) value (0.76 ± 0.51) was recorded in May 2012 over Ahvaz, and the lowest value (0.035 ± 0.27) was recorded in December 2013 over Tabriz. After Ahvaz, the highest AOD value was found over Tehran (annual mean 0.11 ± 0.20). The results show that AOD increases with increasing industrial activities, but the increased frequency of aerosols due to land degradation and desertification is more powerful in Iran. The trajectory analysis by the HYSPLIT model showed that the air masses come from Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon and passed over the Iraq and then reached to Iran during summer. Aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) has been analyzed for Zanjan (Aerosol Robotic Network site) during 2010–2013. The ARF at surface and top of the atmosphere was found to be ranging from − 79 to − 10W m−2 (average − 33.45 W m−2) and from − 25 to 6 W m−2 (average − 12.80 W m−2), respectively.

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Abbreviations

AOD:

Aerosol optical depth

ARF:

Aerosol radiative forcing

HYSPLIT:

Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory

MISR:

Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer

MODIS:

Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

TOMS:

Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Douglas Klotter for his assistance in the graphics preparation and data retrieval. The analyses and visualizations used in this study were produced with the Giovanni online data system, developed and maintained by the NASA GES DISC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Meteorology, Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, Tehran North Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    F. Arkian

  2. Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA

    S. E. Nicholson

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Correspondence to F. Arkian.

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Arkian, F., Nicholson, S.E. Long-term variations of aerosol optical depth and aerosol radiative forcing over Iran based on satellite and AERONET data. Environ Monit Assess 190, 1 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-6336-1

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