Compared to the visible spectral region, very little is known about aerosol absorption in the UV. Without such information it is impossible to quantify the causes of the observed discrepancy between modeled and measured UV irradiances and photolysis rates. We report results of a 17-month aerosol column absorption monitoring experiment conducted in Greenbelt, Maryland, where the imaginary part of effective refractive index k was inferred from the measurements of direct and diffuse atmospheric transmittances by a UV-multifilter rotating shadowband radiometer [UV-MFRSR, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) UV-B Monitoring and Research Network]. Colocated ancillary measurements of aerosol effective particle size distribution and refractive index in the visible wavelengths [by CIMEL sun-sky radiometers, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET)], column ozone, surface pressure, and albedo constrain the forward radiative transfer model input, so that a unique solution for k is obtained independently in each UV-MFRSR spectral channel. Inferred values of k are systematically larger in the UV than in the visible wavelengths. The inferred k values enable calculation of the single scattering albedo , which is compared with AERONET inversions in the visible wavelengths. On cloud-free days with high aerosol loadings [ext(440)>0.4], is systematically lower at 368 nm (368=0.94) than at 440 nm (440=0.96), however, the mean differences (0.02) are within expected uncertainties of retrievals (~0.03). The inferred is even lower at shorter UV wavelengths (325~332=0.92), which might suggest the presence of selectively UV absorbing aerosols. We also find that decreases with decrease in aerosol loading. This could be due to real changes in the average aerosol composition between summer and winter months at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) site.
We report final results of an aerosol UV absorption closure experiment where a UV-shadow-band radiometer (UV-MFRSR, USDA UVB Monitoring and Research Network) and 4 rotating sun-sky radiometers (CIMEL, NASA AERONET network) were run side-by-side continuously for 17 months at NASA/GSFC site in Greenbelt, MD. The aerosol extinction optical thickness τext, was measured by the CIMEL direct-sun technique in the visible and at two UV wavelengths 340 and 380 nm. These results were used for UV-MFRSR daily on-site calibration and 3-min measurements of τext at 325nm, 332nm and 368nm. The τext measurements were used as input to the radiative transfer model along with AERONET retrievals of the column-integrated particle size distribution (PSD)to infer an effective imaginary part of the UV aerosol refractive index, k, by fitting MFRSR measured voltage ratios. Using all cases for cloud-free days, we derive diurnal and seasonal dependence of the aerosol absorption optical thickness, τabs with an uncertainty 0.01-0.02. At our site τabs follows pronounced seasonal dependence with maximum values ~0.07 at 368nm (~0.15 at 325nm) occurring in summer hazy conditions and <0.02 in winter-fall seasons, when aerosol loadings are small. Inferred values of k allow calculation of the single scattering albedo, ω, in UVA and comparisons with AERONET almucantar ω440 retrievals at 440nm. Overall, ω was slightly lower in UV than in the visible: case average <ω368>=0.93 compared to <ω440>=0.95. However, the differences (<ω440 - ω368> ~0.02, rms difference ~0.016) are smaller than uncertainties of both retrievals (δω~0.03). Low <ω368> values are consistent with higher values for imaginary refractive index, k: <k368> ~0.01 compare to <k440> ~0.006. However, mean differences in k (<k368-k440>~0.004) were only slightly larger than AERONET retrieval uncertainty δk ~0.00327. We also found that ω decreases with decrease in τext, suggesting different aerosol composition in summer and winter months. So far, our results do not allow explaining the causes of apparent larger aerosol absorption in UV. Continuing co-located measurements at GFSC is important to improve the comparison statistics, but conducting aerosol absorption measurements at different sites with varying conditions is also desirable.
Increased levels of biologically harmful Uv radiatonhave beenshown to affec aquatic ecosystems, marine photocynmetiry, and their imapct on carbon cycling. A quantiative assessment of UV effectw requires an estimate of the in-water raiationfield. An esitmate of underwater UV radiatonis porosed based on satellit meausrments fromthe TOMS and SeaWiFS and modesl fo radiatve transfer (RT). The Hydrolight code, modified toe xtnd it to the 290 - 400 nm wavleength range, is used for REt calucaitons in theocean. Solar direc tandidffuse radiances at the ocean surfce are calculated using a fulll RT code for clear-sky coditions, whicha re then modified for clouds and aerosols.Teh TOMS total column ozone and reflectivity productsa reinputs for RT calcuaitons in the atmosphere. An essential component of the in-water RT model is a model of seawater inherent optical properties (IOP). The IOP model is an extension of the Case-1 water model to the UV spectral region. Pure water absorption is interpolated between experimental datasets available in the literature. A new element of the IOP model is parameterization of particulate matter absorption in the UV based on recent in situ data. The SeaWiFS chlorophyll product is input for the IOP model. The in-water computational scheme is verified by comparing the calculated diffuse attenuation coefficient Kd, with one measured for a variety of seawater IOP. The calculated Kd is in a good agreement with the measured Kd. The relative RMS error for all of the cruise stations is about 20%. The error may be partially attributed to variability of solar illumination conditions not accounted for in calculations. The conclusion is that we are now able to model ocean UV irradiances and IOP properties with accuracies approaching those visible region, and in agreement with experimental in situ data.
Seasonal variability of solar UV radiation in ocean waters is estimated on a global scale by combining satellite measurements of scene reflectivity (TOMS), column ozone (TOMS) and chlorophyll concentration (SeaWiFS) with radiative transfer calculations for an ocean-atmosphere system. The new features are an extension of underwater radiative transfer (scattering and absorption) into the UV, inclusion of polarization in the above water diffuse radiances, the proper treatment of Fresnel reflection, and first order atmospheric backscatter of water-leaving radiance to the oceans. Maps of downwelling diffuse irradiances (Ed) at ocean surface and at different depths in the ocean, diffuse attenuation coefficient (Kd), and ten percent penetration depth (Z10) of solar irradiation are computed for open ocean waters. Results on spectral irradiances at 310 nm in UV-B and at 380 nm in UV-A part of the spectrum are presented with particular emphasis on the role of aerosols, clouds, and ozone in the atmosphere and chlorophyll concentrations in the ocean.
Compared to the visible spectral region very little is known about aerosol absorption in UV. Without such information it is impossible to quantify a cause to the observed discrepancy between modeled and measured UV irradiances and photolysis rates. We report preliminary results of an aerosol closure experiment where a UV-shadow-band radiometer (UVMFRSR, USDA UVB Monitoring and Research Network) and well-calibrated sun-sky radiometer (CIMEL, NASA AERONET network) were run side-by-side for several months at NASA/GSFC site in Greenbelt, MD. The aerosol optical thickness, τ, was measured at 340nm and 380nm by the CIMEL direct-sun technique. These results compared well with independent MFRSR τ measurements at 368nm (using total minus diffuse irradiance technique). Such comparisons provide an independent check of both instrument’s radiometric and MFRSR’s angular calibration and allow precise tracking of the UV filter degradation by repeating the comparisons made at somewhat regular time intervals. The τ measurements were used as input to a radiative transfer model along with AERONET retrievals of the column-integrated particle size distribution (PSD) to infer an effective imaginary part of the UV aerosol refractive index (k). This was done by fitting the MFRSR diffuse fraction measurements to the calculated values for each UV spectral channel. Inferred values of refractive index and PSD allow calculation of the single scattering albedo, ω, in the UV and comparisons with AERONET ω retrievals. The advantage of utilizing diffuse fraction measurements is that radiometric calibration is not needed for the MFRSR since the same detector measures both the total and diffuse flux. The additional advantage is that surface albedo is much smaller in the UV than in the visible spectral range and has much less effect on aerosol measurements.
Satellite instruments currently provide global maps of surface UV irradiance by combining backscattered radiance data with radiative transfer models. The models are often limited by uncertainties in physical input parameters of the atmosphere and surface. Global mapping of the underwater UV irradiance creates further challenges for the models. The uncertainties in physical input parameters become more serious because of the presence of absorbing and scattering quantities affected by biological processes within the oceans. In this presentation we summarize the problems encountered in the assessment of the underwater UV irradiance from space-based measurements, and propose approaches to resolve the problems. We have developed a radiative transfer scheme for computation of the UV irradiance in the atmosphere-ocean system. The scheme makes use of input parameters derived from satellite instruments such as TOMS and SeaWiFS. The major problem in assessment of the surface UV irradiance is to accurately quantify the effects of clouds. Unlike the standard TOMS UV algorithm, we use the cloud fraction products available from SeaWiFS and MODIS to calculate instantaneous surface flux at the ocean surface. Daily UV doses can be calculated by assuming a model of constant daily cloudiness. Both SeaWiFS and MODIS provide some estimates of seawater optical properties in the visible.
This paper poses two important objectives of environmental monitoring and quality assessment of surface waters and describes approaches to their solution using multispectral optoelectronic space platforms. The first objective is closely connected with oil contamination of the water surface. This problem brings forward the issue of development of methods for remote detecting of oil spills based on data received from aerospace remote sensing platforms. An opportunity to improve the efficiency of oil contamination diagnostics at observation from the space platform at different angles is considered. This concept was provoked by the approaching launch of a French-Japanese `Polder' system installed onboard the ADEOS satellite. The unique feature of this optoelectronic system is the ability to measure reflectivity of the underlying surface in the visible wavelengths at different viewing angles. The second objective refers to remote methods for determining the primary bio-productivity of sea waters by spectro- radiometric evaluations of the intensity of the radiation rising from below the `water-atmosphere' boundary and transformed in the real aerosol-molecular atmosphere.
The photochemical effect of solar ultraviolet radiation on colored dissolved organic matter has been recently revealed. This effect consists in the change of spectral absorption of sea water in the UV band. In the present paper the experimental data are parameterized to include this effect into radiative transfer theory. A radiative transfer model is developed for calculation of the spectral UV flux at different depths in the sea. The resulting nonlinear radiative transfer equation is solved by the consequent iteration method using quasi-single scattering approximation. Calculations of the spectral irradiance within 290 - 400 nm band were carried out for different solar zenith angles and for different total amounts of ozone. A model of spectral optical properties of sea water inherent to the coastal zone was used. By convolution of irradiance spectra with the DNA action spectrum the biologically effective UV dose rates were calculated. It is shown that solar UV-light effect on the colored dissolved organic matter absorption leads to about 40% increase of the DNA dose rates at a depth of 4 m.
A method is proposed to estimate the accuracy of parameters retrieval from the spectral sea reflectance based on certain assumptions about errors distribution in the input data. Maximum likelihood method has been used to estimate the error of the retrieval stemmed from the random errors of experimental data. The method has been applied to the retrieval of chlorophyll-a concentration, coefficient of scattering in the backward direction of non-chlorophylous particles and absorption of yellow substance in the waters of north-east part of the Black sea. The retrieved chlorophyll concentrations are consistent with in situ measurements. The modeled values of scattering coefficient check well with measurements of extinction coefficient. Proposed accuracy estimates proved to be close to direct ones. The proposed method is general enough to be applicable to the accuracy estimation in various inverse problems of remote sensing of the ocean and atmosphere.
A radiative transfer model is developed for the calculation of ultraviolet (UV) fluxes in the atmosphere-ocean system. The radiative transfer equation for the atmosphere is solved by the modified discrete ordinate method. Obtained angular distribution of radiance at the ocean surface serves as a boundary condition for radiative transfer equation in the ocean. The latter is solved by the quasi-single approximation. The comprehensive models are used for the spectral dependencies of optical properties of the atmosphere and the ocean. Calculations of spectral irradiance within the 290 - 400 nm region have been carried out for different solar zenith angles and total amount of ozone inherent to high latitude regions. By convolution of irradiance spectra for the ocean with the phytoplankton action spectrum the UV dose rates have been obtained for different depths.
It has been theoretically shown that vertical distribution of sea water scattering coefficient b(z) can be derived from temporal dependence of backscattered pulse polarization degree when sounding sea water by linear polarized light pulses. Experimental examination of the theoretical method has been carried out by using airborne lidar receiving two orthogonal polarized components of backscattered pulse. Measurements of the lidar signals are accompanied by shipboard measurements of the vertical distribution of the sea water attenuation coefficient c(z). Obtained data show that the backscattered pulse depolarization degree is small and doesn't exceed 6 - 8% at the time interval until 150 ns. The comparison of theoretical calculations and experimental results concerning depolarization degree allow us to evaluate the important parameter of sea water Mueller matrix- `depolarization factor' describing the difference between the first and second diagonal elements of the scattering matrix.
A numerical code has been developed to calculate Stokes parameters of the visible solar radiation, scattered in the atmosphere-ocean system. Mathematical modeling is used to examine spectral and angular (azimuth and zenith angle) variations of degree of polarization at sea level and at different heights in the atmosphere above the sea surface. On the basis of a developed computer code the efficiency of the polarization measurements for different optical passive remote sensing techniques of the ocean has been investigated. For the passive spectral measurements of the water bio-productivity (chlorophyll-a, dissolved organic matter, concentration of suspended particles) the polarizer can improve signal-to-background ratio. The magnitude of this effect and optimum direction of the polarizer depend upon height, viewing direction, and solar zenith angle. Within the framework of polarization remote sensing technique the influence of the observation height and viewing direction on the results of water turbidity measurements is investigated. Optimal viewing directions in such polarization passive remote sensing technique are discussed.
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