Spatial distribution and spectral characteristics of aerosol single scattering albedo over the Bay of Bengal inferred from shipborne measurements

Abstract

Aerosol single scattering albedos (SSA) were deduced from extensive and collocated measurements of spectrally resolved aerosol scattering (σ _sca) and absorption (σ _abs) coefficients, carried out for the first time over the entire Bay of Bengal (BoB). Notwithstanding the high values of σ _sca, and σ _abs, comparatively higher values of SSA were noticed over the head BoB (north of 16°N) and coastal regions while lower values of SSA persisted over the Central BoB indicating the dominance of absorbing aerosols far away from continental source regions. At mid visible wavelength (550 nm) SSA ranged from 0.84 to 0.96 over different parts of the BoB showing large heterogeneity. However, more than 80% of the values lay between 0.9 and 0.95. Spectral variation of SSA was distinctly different over the northern and southern BoB.