Characterization of European aerosol by regional modelling and lidar measurments

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Ina Tegen
• Subject Area: Atmospheric Science
• Term: from 2010 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 170394881

European aerosol distributions will be computed with a regional aerosol-chemistry-transport model system for several case studies representing different meteorological situations. The vertical distribution of aerosol properties is important for understanding their effects, but remains currently highly uncertain. Modeled aerosol properties will be evaluated with lidar measurements from the European Aerosol Research Lidar NETwork (EARLINET). Profile measurements of aerosol t) backscatter and - at some stations - aerosol extinction profiles from ground lidar instruments are available since the year 2000. In addition, since 2006 aerosol backscatter information is available from the CALIPSO satellite lidar instrument. Microphysical aerosol properties will be derived by an inversion algorithm applied to multiwavelength extinction and backscatter measurements for approximately 40 profiles from the Leipzig station. These data will be used for a detailed test of the aerosol microphysics in the model. Aerosol radiative forcing will be computed for the case studies, and the influence of the aerosol distributions on atmospheric heating rates and their dynamic effect will be investigated. The project aims at a better understanding of aerosol properties at the European scale.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Persons: Dr. Ina Mattis; Dr. Detlef Müller