Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas (H2O, CH4) Record - Aerosol part

Introduction

The aerosol part of the stratospheric record service aims at providing a large range of data records concerning various parameters characterizing the microphysical and radiative properties of stratospheric aerosols. At the end of the service delivery, aerosol records will concern size information (median radius and mode width of the aerosol size distribution supposed to be lognormal), particle number density, extinction and optical depth.

Service evolution :

This service has been added in October 2007 to the PROMOTE portfolio, and is still under development.

For the period covering PROMOTE Stage 2 - phase 2 (current year), the work schedule previews the delivery of data records for aerosol size information and particle number density.

First data sets have been made available on the aerosol website for evaluation by the users.

Examples

Particle Number Density :

Evolution in time and latitude of the particle number density of stratospheric aerosols at 22.5 km altitude, as derived from SAGE II extinction measurements. The colour code represents the log10 of this quantity. The influence of the main volcanic eruptions (El Chichon in 1982, Pinatubo in 1991) is clearly visible.

Median Radius :

Evolution in time and altitude of the median radius of stratospheric aerosols at the equator, as derived from SAGE II extinction measurements. The colour code represents the log10 of this quantity. Notice the absence of measurements below 23 km around the time period 1991-1993, due to the saturation of the aerosol content following the eruption of the Mt. Pinatubo, making the signal lower than the sensitivity of the instrument.

Data delivery

Documentation

Size information:

• Content:

  Includes monthly zonal means of the particle number density (in cm-3), median radius (in micr) and mode width.
  The particle size distribution is supposed to be lognormal and unimodal. If the data are requested in numerical format, they are provided with an error estimation.
  These data have been derived from the SAGE II experiment.

• Output format:

  Data can be obtained in graphical form, or as an ascii file.

  Graphical form:

  Various kinds of graphics can be obtained, showing 1D dependence (in time, altitude, latitude) or 2D dependence (in time/latitude, time/altitude, latitude/altitude).
  Graphics can be saved as graphical files in png format.

  Ascii file:

  Two formats are available : organization in data tables, or in arrays.

• More about this product:

  • Derivation of aerosol microphysical properties
  • Publications of the group related to this topic

Extinction:

• Content:

  Will include monthly zonal means of aerosol extinction derived from extinction profiles measured by various experiments: SAM II, SAGE II, SAGE 3, POAM II, POAM III, GOMOS. If the data are requested in numerical format, they are provided with an error estimation.
  

• Output format:

  Data can be obtained in graphical form, or as an ascii file.

  Graphical form:

  Various kinds of graphics can be obtained, showing 1D dependence (in time, altitude, latitude) or 2D dependence (in time/latitude, time/altitude, latitude/altitude).
  Graphics can be saved as graphical files in png format.

  Ascii file:

  Two formats are available : organization in data tables, or in arrays.

• Delivery:

  Forseen for September 2009; first data sets will be available in February 2009 for evaluation by the users.

Optical depth:

• Content:

  Will include monthly zonal means of aerosol optical depth derived from extinction profiles measured by various experiments: SAM II, SAGE II, SAGE 3, POAM II, POAM III, GOMOS. If the data are requested in numerical format, they are provided with an error estimation.
  

• Output format:

  Data can be obtained in graphical form, or as an ascii file.

  Graphical form:

  Various kinds of graphics can be obtained, showing 1D dependence (in time, latitude) or 2D dependence (in time/latitude)
  Graphics can be saved as graphical files in png format.

  Ascii file:

  Two formats are available : organization in data tables, or in arrays.

• Delivery:

  Forseen for September 2009; first data sets will be available in February 2009 for evaluation by the users.

Background information

• Derivation of aerosol microphysical properties
• The Sage II experiment
• The Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy
• List of publications by the Limb Sensing Group (BIRA-IASB)

Contact details

Last modified: March 2008