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The Effect of Asian Dust Aerosols on Cloud Properties and Radiative Forcing from MODIS and CERESThe effects of dust storms on cloud properties and radiative forcing are analyzed over northwestern China from April 2001 to June 2004 using data collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instruments on the Aqua and Terra satellites. On average, ice cloud effective particle diameter, optical depth and ice water path of the cirrus clouds under dust polluted conditions are 11%, 32.8%, and 42% less, respectively, than those derived from ice clouds in dust-free atmospheric environments. The humidity differences are larger in the dusty region than in the dust-free region, and may be caused by removal of moisture by wet dust precipitation. Due to changes in cloud microphysics, the instantaneous net radiative forcing is reduced from -71.2 W/m2 for dust contaminated clouds to -182.7 W/m2 for dust-free clouds. The reduced cooling effects of dusts may lead to a net warming of 1 W/m2, which, if confirmed, would be the strongest aerosol forcing during later winter and early spring dust storm seasons over the studied region.
Document ID
20080015434
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Huang, Jianping (Lanzhou Univ. China)
Minnis, Patrick (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Lin, Bing (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Wang, Tianhe (Lanzhou Univ. China)
Yi, Yuhong (AS and M, Inc. Hampton, VA, United States)
Hu, Yongxiang (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Sun-Mack, Sunny (Science Applications International Corp. Hampton, VA, United States)
Ayers, Kirk (AS and M, Inc. Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2005
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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