Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-796
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-796
25 Nov 2022
 | 25 Nov 2022
Status: a revised version of this preprint was accepted for the journal ACP and is expected to appear here in due course.

Satellite Observations of Smoke-Cloud-Radiation Interactions Over the Amazon Rainforest

Ross Herbert and Philip Stier

Abstract. The Amazon rainforest routinely experiences intense and long-lived biomass burning events that result in smoke plumes that cover vast regions. The spatial and temporal extent of the plumes, and the complex pathways through which they interact with the atmosphere, has proved challenging to measure and gain a representative understanding of smoke impacts on the Amazonian atmosphere. In this study we use multiple collocated satellite sensors onboard AQUA and TERRA platforms to study the underlying smoke-cloud-radiation interactions during the diurnal cycle. An 18-year timeseries for both morning and afternoon overpasses is constructed providing collocated measurements of aerosol optical depth (column integrated aerosol extinction, AOD), cloud properties, top-of-atmosphere radiative fluxes, precipitation, and column water-vapour content from independent sources.

The long-term timeseries reduces the impact of interannual variability and provides robust evidence that smoke significantly modifies the Amazonian atmosphere. Low loadings of smoke (AOD ≤ 0.4) enhance convective activity, cloudiness and precipitation, but higher loadings (AOD > 0.4) strongly suppress afternoon convection and promote low-level cloud occurrence. Accumulated precipitation increases with convective activity but remains elevated under high smoke loadings suggesting fewer but more intense convective cells. Contrasting morning and afternoon cloud responses to smoke are observed, in-line with recent simulations. Observations of top-of-atmosphere radiative fluxes support the findings, and show that the response of low-level cloud properties and cirrus coverage to smoke results in a pronounced and consistent increase in top-of-atmosphere outgoing radiation (cooling) of up to 50 Wm-2 for an AOD perturbation of +1.0.

The results demonstrate that smoke strongly modifies the atmosphere over the Amazon via widespread changes to the cloud-field properties. Rapid adjustments work alongside instantaneous radiative effects to drive a stronger cooling effect from smoke than previously thought, whilst contrasting morning/afternoon responses of liquid and ice water paths highlight a potential method for constraining aerosol impacts on climate. Increased drought susceptibility, land-use change, and deforestation will have important and widespread impacts to the region over the coming decades. Based on this analysis, we anticipate further increases in anthropogenic fire activity to be associated with an overall reduction in regional precipitation, and a negative forcing (cooling) on the Earth’s energy budget.

Ross Herbert and Philip Stier

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on acp-2022-796', Anonymous Referee #1, 31 Dec 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on acp-2022-796', Anonymous Referee #2, 03 Jan 2023
  • AC1: 'Comment on acp-2022-796', Ross Herbert, 24 Feb 2023

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on acp-2022-796', Anonymous Referee #1, 31 Dec 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on acp-2022-796', Anonymous Referee #2, 03 Jan 2023
  • AC1: 'Comment on acp-2022-796', Ross Herbert, 24 Feb 2023

Ross Herbert and Philip Stier

Ross Herbert and Philip Stier

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Short summary
We provide robust evidence from multiple sources that show smoke from fires in the Amazon rainforest significantly modify the diurnal cycle of convection and cool the climate. Low-to-moderate amounts of smoke increase deep convective clouds and rain, whilst beyond a threshold amount the smoke starts to suppress the convection and rain. We are currently at this threshold, suggesting increases in fires from agricultural practices or droughts will reduce cloudiness and rain over the region.
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