Articles | Volume 26, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-6351-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-6351-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
12 May 2026
Research article |
| 12 May 2026
| 12 May 2026
Spatial-scale dependence of aerosol indirect effects over land in eastern China: a comparative analysis
Yuqin Liu
State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
Fujian Key Laboratory of Digital Technology for Territorial Space Analysis and Simulation, Fuzhou 350108, China
Tao Lin
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
Fujian Key Laboratory of Digital Technology for Territorial Space Analysis and Simulation, Fuzhou 350108, China
Jiahua Zhang
Key Laboratory of Digital Earth Sciences, The Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China
CMA Earth System Modeling and Prediction Centre (CEMC), Beijing 100081, China
Meixia Lin
State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
Fujian Key Laboratory of Digital Technology for Territorial Space Analysis and Simulation, Fuzhou 350108, China
Yuan Chen
State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
Fujian Key Laboratory of Digital Technology for Territorial Space Analysis and Simulation, Fuzhou 350108, China
Yiyi Huang
State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
Fujian Key Laboratory of Digital Technology for Territorial Space Analysis and Simulation, Fuzhou 350108, China
Hongkai Geng
State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
Fujian Key Laboratory of Digital Technology for Territorial Space Analysis and Simulation, Fuzhou 350108, China
Xin Cao
State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
Fujian Key Laboratory of Digital Technology for Territorial Space Analysis and Simulation, Fuzhou 350108, China
Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), R&D Satellite Observations, 3730 AE De Bilt, the Netherlands
State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth & Key Laboratory of Satellite Remote Sensing of Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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Short summary
This study reveals how air pollution affects cloud properties in eastern China using satellite data from 2008–2022. We find CER/LWP (cloud droplet effective radius/liquid water path) relationship exhibits three regimes, modulated by aerosol concentration. The Twomey effect is confirmed, and its sensitivity shows significant spatial-scale dependence. Surprisingly, cleaner air after 2015 make clouds less sensitive to pollution's effects. The optimal buffer sizes show notable variations for the study area in the range from 6°×6° to 10°×10°.
This study reveals how air pollution affects cloud properties in eastern China using satellite...
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