Identification of column-integrated dominant aerosols using the archive of AERONET data set

Abstract. Dominant aerosols were distinguished from level 2 inversion products for the Anmyon Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) site between 1999 and 2007. Secondary inorganic ions, black carbon (BC) and organic carbon (OC) were separated from fine mode aerosols, and mineral dust (MD), MD mixed with carbon, mixed coarse particles were separated from coarse mode aerosols. Four parameters (aerosol optical depth, single scattering albedo, absorption Angstrom exponent, and fine mode fraction) were used for this classification. Monthly variation of the occurrence rate of each aerosol type reveals that MD and MD mixed with carbon are frequent in spring. Although the fraction among dominant aerosols and occurrence rates of BC and OC tend to be high in cold season for heating, their contributions are variable but consistent due to various combustion sources. Secondary inorganic ions are most prevalent from June to August; the effective radius of these fine mode aerosols increases with water vapor content because of hygroscopic growth. To evaluate the validity of aerosol types identified, dominant aerosols at worldwide AERONET sites (Beijing, Mexico City, Goddard Space Flight Center, Mongu, Alta Floresta, Cape Verde), which have distinct source characteristics, were classified into the same aerosol types. The occurrence rate and fraction of the aerosol types at the selected sites confirm that the classification in this study is reasonable. However, mean optical properties of the aerosol types are generally influenced by the aerosol types with large fractions. The present work shows that the identification of dominant aerosols is effective even at a single site, provided that the archive of the data set is properly available.