Aerosol physical properties and radiative forcing at the outflow region from the Indo-Gangetic plains during typical clear and hazy periods of wintertime

Abstract

Results of a campaign mode measurements of column integrated aerosol optical depths, near surface mass concentrations and LIDAR profiles during winter 2004 at Kharagpur located at the vent of the out flow region from the Indo-Gangetic plains are presented with a view to characterize the atmospheric aerosol radiative forcing during hazy and clear sky conditions. The multispectral optical depths, surface mass concentrations and black carbon are high, while a decrease in Angstrom exponent value was observed during the hazy sky days. During hazy conditions, the LIDAR profiles show a decrease in the mixed layer height leading to confinement and subsidence of aerosols. Santa Barbara DISORT Atmospheric Radiative Transfer (SBDART) model along with Optical Properties of Aerosols and Clouds (OPAC) are used to perform composite aerosol forcing estimation, incorporating LIDAR derived mixed layer heights. A considerable decrease in estimated single scattering albedo has been observed during hazy sky days. The atmospheric absorption during hazy sky days increased by 75% compared to clear days. Negative forcing was observed both at the top of the atmosphere and at the surface. The forcing estimates of the present study are compared with the similar studies over other locations in the Indo-Gangetic plains during the campaign period.