Michał T. Chiliński

Annual changes of aerosol optical depth and Ångström exponent over Spitsbergen

In this work we present the annual changes of two major, climate related aerosol optical parameters measured at three Spitsbergen locations, Ny-Alesund, Longyearbyen and Hornsund over a period between 2000 and 2012. We discuss the changes of aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 500 nm and the Angstrom exponent (AE) (440–870 nm) measured with use of different types of sun photometers. For the measurement data we adopted several data quality assurance techniques and the calibration of the instruments was taken into consideration. The results obtained show that marine source has been a dominating of aerosol sources over Spitsbergen. Some years (2005, 2006, 2008 and 2011) show very high values of AOD due to strong aerosol events such as the Arctic Haze. In general the mean AOD values increase over the period of 2000 and 2012 over Spitsbergen. This may indicate the presence of larger scale of atmospheric pollution in the region.

Modelling and Observation of Mineral Dust Optical Properties over Central Europe

This paper is focused on Saharan dust transport to Central Europe/Poland; we compare properties of atmospheric Saharan dust using data from NAAPS, MACC, AERONET as well as observations obtained during HyMountEcos campaign in June 2012. Ten years of dust climatology shows that long-range transport of Saharan dust to Central Europe is mostly during spring and summer. HYSPLIT back-trajectories indicate airmass transport mainly in November, but it does not agree with modeled maxima of dust optical depth. NAAPS model shows maximum of dust optical depth (~0.04–0.05, 550 nm) in April–May, but the MACC modeled peak is broader (~0.04). During occurrence of mineral dust over Central-Europe for 14% (NAAPS) / 12% (MACC) of days dust optical depths are above 0.05 and during 4% (NAAPS) / 2.5% (MACC) of days dust optical depths exceed 0.1. The HyMountEcos campaign took place in June–July 2012 in the mountainous region of Karkonosze. The analysis includes remote sensing data from lidars, sunphotometers, and numerical simulations from NAAPS, MACC, DREAM8b models. Comparison of simulations with observations demonstrates the ability of models to reasonably reproduce aerosol vertical distributions and their temporal variability. However, significant differences between simulated and measured AODs were found. The best agreement was achieved for MACC model.

UAS as a Support for Atmospheric Aerosols Research: Case Study

Small drones (multi-copters) have the potential to deliver valuable data for atmospheric research. They are especially useful for collecting vertical profiles of optical and microphysical properties of atmospheric aerosols. Miniaturization of sensors, such as aethalometers and particle counters, allows for collecting profiles of black carbon concentration, absorption coefficient, and particle size distribution. Vertical variability of single-scattering properties has a significant impact on radiative transfer and Earth’s climate, but the base of global measurements is very limited. This results in high uncertainties of climate/radiation models. Vertical range of modern multi-copters is up to 2000 m, which is usually enough to study aerosols up to the top of planetary boundary layer on middle latitudes. In this study, we present the benefits coming from usage of small drones in atmospheric research. The experiment, described as a case study, was conducted at two stations (Swider and Warsaw) in Poland, from October 2014 to March 2015. For over 6 months, photoacoustic extinctiometers collected data at both stations. This enabled us to compare the stations and to establish ground reference of black carbon concentrations for vertical profiles collected by ceilometer and drone. At Swider station, we used Vaisala CL-31 ceilometer. It delivered vertical profiles of range corrected signal, which were analysed together with profiles acquired by micro-aethalometer AE-51 and Vaisala RS92-SGP radiosonde carried by a hexacopter drone. Near to the surface, black carbon gradient of

Study of aerosol optical properties during long-range transport of biomass burning from Canada to Central Europe in July 2013

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Vertical variability of aerosol single-scattering albedo and equivalent black carbon concentration based on in-situ and remote sensing techniques during the iAREA campaigns in Ny-Ålesund

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Behavioral Reversion and Dark–Light Choice Behavior in Workers of the Red Wood Ant Formica polyctena

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