Monitoring of aerosol chemical composition by remote sensing: Verification of the concept and methodology development

Title and thesis summary

Monitoring of aerosol chemical composition by remote sensing: Verification of the concept and methodology development

Determination of atmospheric aerosol chemical composition has a great importance for Earth’s climate and environment. However, in situ measurements that enable determination of aerosol composition are limited in time and space, while simulations by chemical transport models may not accurately describe the reality. The current thesis presents a novel methodology for monitoring of aerosol composition by remote sensing on large spatial and temporal scale. Namely, the volume-weighted and Maxwell-Garnett models, which link the aerosol optical properties and aerosol composition, were incorporated into the first versatile algorithm (GRASP) that derives the atmospheric properties from remote sensing. The concept proposes the direct retrieval of fractions of aerosol compositions instead of post-processing estimate of the aerosol composition from the retrieved optical properties (refractive index, aerosol sizes). The tests showed sufficient sensitivity of the POLDER/PARASOL satellite observations to presence of key aerosol compositions. Then, the methodology was applied for the real PARASOL measurements. The aerosol optical characteristics derived from PARASOL using the aerosol composition module demonstrated a good agreement with our reference measurements – AERONET ground-based network (e.g., R of ~ 0.9 for AOT). The methodology was then applied to the AERONET measurements as well. The obtained spatial and temporal patterns of aerosol composition agree well with known physical expectations. The retrieved aerosol composition was inter-compared with available field campaign data and with GEOS-5/GOCART chemical transport model simulations.

Thesis supervisors :
Oleg DUBOVIK, Directeur de recherche CNRS, CNRS/Université Lille
Yevgeny DERIMIAN, Charge de recherche CNRS/Université Lille

Referees :
Lorraine A. REMER, Professor, University of Maryland, Baltimore
Mian CHIN, Senior Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Examiners :
Philippe GOLOUB, Professor, Université Lille
Gregory L. SCHUSTER, Senior Scientist,  NASA Langley Research Center
Daven K. HENZE, Associate Professor, University of Colorado, Boulder

Laboratory : LOA

Financing : Région Nord-Pas-de-Calais / Labex CaPPA

Publications

(1) Cheng Chen, Oleg Dubovik, Daven K. Henze, Tatyana Lapyonak, Mian Chin, Fabrice Ducos, Pavel Litvinov, Xin Huang, Lei Li (2018), Retrieval of desert dust and carbonaceous aerosol emissions over Africa from POLDER/PARASOL products generated by GRASP algorithm. Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss. http://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2018-35.

(2) Li, Z., Zhang, Y., Shao, J., Li, B., Hong, J., Liu, D., Li, Lei. & Zhang, F., (2016), Remote sensing of atmospheric particulate mass of dry PM 2.5 near the ground: Method validation using ground-based measurements. Remote Sensing of Environment, 173, 59-68.

(3) Li, Z., Li, L. (Corresponding), Zhang, F., et al. (2015), Comparison of aerosol properties over Beijing and Kanpur: Optical, physical properties and aerosol component composition retrieved from 12 years ground-based Sun-sky radiometer remote sensing dat. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 120(4), 1520-1535.

(4) Zhang, Y., Li, Z., Cuesta, J., Li, D., Wei, P., Xie, Y., & Li, L. (2015), Aerosol column size distribution and water uptake observed during a major haze outbreak over Beijing on January 2013. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 15(3), 945-957.

(5) Xie, Y., Li, Z., Li, L., et al. (2014), Study on influence of different mixing rules on the aerosol components retrieval from ground-based remote sensing measurements. Atmospheric Research, 145, 267-278.

Oral and posters presentation

oral

Posters

(6) Lei LI, Oleg DUBOVIK, Yevgeny DERIMIAN, Tatyana LAPYONOK, Gregory L SCHUSTER, Fabrice DUCOS. GRASP retrievals of aerosol chemical composition from PARASOL satellite observations over Africa. IRePSE (Institut de Recherches Pluridisciplinaires en Sciences de l’Environnement), July 2017, France.

(7) Lei LI, Oleg DUBOVIK, Yevgeny DERIMIAN, Tatyana LAPYONOK, Gregory L SCHUSTER, Fabrice DUCOS. GRASP retrievals of aerosol chemical composition from PARASOL satellite observations over Africa. ICAC (International Conference on Aerosol Cycle), March 2017, France.

(8) Lei LI, Oleg DUBOVIK, Yevgeny DERIMIAN, Tatyana LAPYONOK, Gregory L SCHUSTER, Fabrice DUCOS. Retrievals of aerosol composition from PARASOL satellite observations. Journée Scientifique Labex CaPPA, July 2016, France.

Future

Looking for opportunities in China. Do not hesitate to contact him.