Aerosol Measurements over India: Comparison of MAX-DOAS Measurements with Ground-based (AERONET) and Satellite-based (MODIS) Data

Abstract In this study, we present ground-based multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) measurements of aerosols from two urban locations (Delhi and Pune) and one high-altitude rural location (Mahabaleshwar) in India. We utilized a profile retrieval algorithm to estimate t...

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Main Authors: Prithviraj Mali, Mriganka Sekhar Biswas, Steffen Beirle, Thomas Wagner, Shrivardhan Hulswar, Swaleha Inamdar, Anoop S. Mahajan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2023-11-01
Series:Aerosol and Air Quality Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.230076
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author Prithviraj Mali
Mriganka Sekhar Biswas
Steffen Beirle
Thomas Wagner
Shrivardhan Hulswar
Swaleha Inamdar
Anoop S. Mahajan
author_facet Prithviraj Mali
Mriganka Sekhar Biswas
Steffen Beirle
Thomas Wagner
Shrivardhan Hulswar
Swaleha Inamdar
Anoop S. Mahajan
author_sort Prithviraj Mali
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In this study, we present ground-based multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) measurements of aerosols from two urban locations (Delhi and Pune) and one high-altitude rural location (Mahabaleshwar) in India. We utilized a profile retrieval algorithm to estimate the vertical profiles and vertical column densities of aerosols (AOD) using MAX-DOAS measurements of the oxygen dimer (O4) at ultraviolet and visible spectral regions. Our results from Pune show good agreement with the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) observations at both UV and visible wavelengths, with correlation coefficients of 0.70 and 0.71, respectively. The MAX-DOAS retrieved AOD and the MODIS satellite-based AOD product at 360 nm for Pune and Mahabaleshwar showed similar variations with correlation coefficients of 0.70 and 0.74, respectively. However, over Delhi, the correlation was poor at 0.54. At 477 nm, all three locations had a moderately positive correlation between the MAX-DOAS and MODIS AODs, with statistically significant correlation coefficients of 0.66, 0.61, and 0.60, respectively. Over the high pollution regions, especially over Delhi, the MODIS AOD was systematically higher than MAX-DOAS AOD. The vertical profiles of aerosol extinction coefficients (AEC) show that aerosols were concentrated within the boundary layer (below 2 km) in Pune and Delhi, with the highest AEC values observed up to 500 meters. Compared to urban locations, the AEC values over Mahabaleshwar are much smaller; however, the average AEC profile suggests that the air in Mahabaleshwar is homogenous through the boundary layer. MAX-DOAS was also effective at observing high aerosol events, which compared well with ground-based samplers. Overall, this study offers insights into the aerosol distribution and vertical profiles in various regions of India and demonstrates the usefulness of MAX-DOAS in aerosol characterization in India.
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spelling doaj-art-101b6c0c52b24646a425c438f36c86bf2025-02-09T12:24:06ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092023-11-0124712510.4209/aaqr.230076Aerosol Measurements over India: Comparison of MAX-DOAS Measurements with Ground-based (AERONET) and Satellite-based (MODIS) DataPrithviraj Mali0Mriganka Sekhar Biswas1Steffen Beirle2Thomas Wagner3Shrivardhan Hulswar4Swaleha Inamdar5Anoop S. Mahajan6Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Ministry of Earth SciencesIndian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Ministry of Earth SciencesMax-Planck-Institut für Chemie (MPI-C), Satellite Remote Sensing GroupMax-Planck-Institut für Chemie (MPI-C), Satellite Remote Sensing GroupIndian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Ministry of Earth SciencesIndian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Ministry of Earth SciencesIndian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Ministry of Earth SciencesAbstract In this study, we present ground-based multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) measurements of aerosols from two urban locations (Delhi and Pune) and one high-altitude rural location (Mahabaleshwar) in India. We utilized a profile retrieval algorithm to estimate the vertical profiles and vertical column densities of aerosols (AOD) using MAX-DOAS measurements of the oxygen dimer (O4) at ultraviolet and visible spectral regions. Our results from Pune show good agreement with the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) observations at both UV and visible wavelengths, with correlation coefficients of 0.70 and 0.71, respectively. The MAX-DOAS retrieved AOD and the MODIS satellite-based AOD product at 360 nm for Pune and Mahabaleshwar showed similar variations with correlation coefficients of 0.70 and 0.74, respectively. However, over Delhi, the correlation was poor at 0.54. At 477 nm, all three locations had a moderately positive correlation between the MAX-DOAS and MODIS AODs, with statistically significant correlation coefficients of 0.66, 0.61, and 0.60, respectively. Over the high pollution regions, especially over Delhi, the MODIS AOD was systematically higher than MAX-DOAS AOD. The vertical profiles of aerosol extinction coefficients (AEC) show that aerosols were concentrated within the boundary layer (below 2 km) in Pune and Delhi, with the highest AEC values observed up to 500 meters. Compared to urban locations, the AEC values over Mahabaleshwar are much smaller; however, the average AEC profile suggests that the air in Mahabaleshwar is homogenous through the boundary layer. MAX-DOAS was also effective at observing high aerosol events, which compared well with ground-based samplers. Overall, this study offers insights into the aerosol distribution and vertical profiles in various regions of India and demonstrates the usefulness of MAX-DOAS in aerosol characterization in India.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.230076AODMAX-DOASMODISAERONETRadiative forcing
spellingShingle Prithviraj Mali
Mriganka Sekhar Biswas
Steffen Beirle
Thomas Wagner
Shrivardhan Hulswar
Swaleha Inamdar
Anoop S. Mahajan
Aerosol Measurements over India: Comparison of MAX-DOAS Measurements with Ground-based (AERONET) and Satellite-based (MODIS) Data
Aerosol and Air Quality Research
AOD
MAX-DOAS
MODIS
AERONET
Radiative forcing
title Aerosol Measurements over India: Comparison of MAX-DOAS Measurements with Ground-based (AERONET) and Satellite-based (MODIS) Data
title_full Aerosol Measurements over India: Comparison of MAX-DOAS Measurements with Ground-based (AERONET) and Satellite-based (MODIS) Data
title_fullStr Aerosol Measurements over India: Comparison of MAX-DOAS Measurements with Ground-based (AERONET) and Satellite-based (MODIS) Data
title_full_unstemmed Aerosol Measurements over India: Comparison of MAX-DOAS Measurements with Ground-based (AERONET) and Satellite-based (MODIS) Data
title_short Aerosol Measurements over India: Comparison of MAX-DOAS Measurements with Ground-based (AERONET) and Satellite-based (MODIS) Data
title_sort aerosol measurements over india comparison of max doas measurements with ground based aeronet and satellite based modis data
topic AOD
MAX-DOAS
MODIS
AERONET
Radiative forcing
url https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.230076
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