Vertical Change in Extinction and Atmospheric Particle Size in the Boundary Layers over Beijing: Balloon-borne Measurement

Abstract

Aerosol size and number concentration were observed in the atmospheric boundary layer over Beijing (from near the ground to 1,200 m) on March 15 (a clear day) and 16 (a dusty day), 2005. The results were further compared with lidar measurements in order to understand the dependency of extinction on the particle size distribution and their vertical changes. The boundary layer atmosphere was composed of several sub-layers, and a dry air layer appeared between 400 and 1,000 m under the influence of dust event. In this dry air layer, the concentration of the fine-mode particles (diameter smaller than 1.0 μm) was slightly lower than the value on the clear day, while the concentration of coarse-mode particles (diameter larger than 1.0 μm) was remarkably higher than that on the clear day. This situation was attributed to the inflow of an air mass containing large amounts of Asian dust particles and a smaller amount of fine-mode particles. The results strongly suggest that the fine-mode particles affect light extinction even in the dusty atmosphere. However, quantitatively the relation between extinction and particle concentration is not satisfied under the dusty atmospheric conditions since laser beam attenuates in the atmosphere with high concentration of particles. Laser beam attenuation effect becomes larger in the relation between extinction and coarse particle content comparing the relation between extinction and fine particle content. To clarify this problem technically, future in situ measurements such as balloon-borne lidar are suggested. Here extinction was measured at 532 nm wavelength. Measurements of extinction at other wavelengths are desired in the future.

Keywords

• extinction
• vertical distribution of aerosol
• particle size
• boundary layer
• visibility