ACPD Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions ACPD 1680-7375 Copernicus GmbH Göttingen, Germany 10.5194/acpd-11-9567-2011 Aerosol optical properties in the North China Plain during HaChi campaign: an in-situ optical closure study Ma N. 1 Zhao C. S. 1 Nowak A. 2 Müller T. 2 Pfeifer S. 2 Cheng Y. F. 3 Deng Z. Z. 1 Liu P. F. 1 Xu W. Y. 1 Ran L. 1 Yan P. 4 Göbel T. 2 Hallbauer E. 2 Mildenberger K. 2 Henning S. 2 Yu J. 5 Cheng L. L. 5 Zhou X. J. 1 4 Stratmann F. 2 Wiedensohler A. 2 Department of Atmosphere, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric research, Leipzig, Germany Center of Global and Regional Environment Research, University of Iowa, Iowa, USA Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences of CMA, Beijing, China Wuqing Meteorological Bureau of Tianjin, Tianjin, China 22 03 2011 11 3 9567 9605 This is an open-access article ditributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. This article is available from http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/11/9567/2011/acpd-11-9567-2011.html The full text article is available as a PDF file from http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/11/9567/2011/acpd-11-9567-2011.pdf

The largest uncertainty in the estimation of radiative forcings on climate stems from atmospheric aerosols. In winter and summer of 2009, two periods of in-situ measurements on aerosol physical and chemical properties were conducted within the HaChi project at Wuqing, a town between Beijing and Tianjin in the North China Plain (NCP). Aerosol optical properties including scattering coefficient (&sigma;<sub>sp</sub>), hemispheric back scattering coefficient (&sigma;<sub>bsp</sub>), absorption coefficient (&sigma;<sub>ap</sub>, as well as single scattering albedo (&omega;) are presented. The characteristics of diurnal and seasonal variations are analyzed together with the meteorological and satellite data. The mean values of &sigma;<sub>sp, 550 nm</sub> of the dry aerosol in winter and summer are 280 &plusmn; 253 and 379 &plusmn; 251 Mm<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. The average &sigma;<sub>ap</sub> for the two periods are respectively 47 &plusmn; 38 and 43 &plusmn; 27 Mm<sup>−1</sup>. The mean values of &omega; are 0.83 &plusmn; 0.05 and 0.87 &plusmn; 0.05 for winter and summer, respectively. The relative high levels of &sigma;<sub>sp</sub> and &sigma;<sub>bsp</sub> are representative of the regional polluted aerosol of the North China Plain. Pronounced diurnal cycle of &sigma;<sub>sp</sub>, &sigma;<sub>ap</sub> and &omega; are found, mainly influenced by the evolution of boundary layer and accumulation of local emissions during night-time. Regional transport of pollutants from southwest in the NCP is significant both in winter and summer, while high values of &sigma;<sub>sp</sub> and &sigma;<sub>ap</sub> correlate with calm winds in winter, which indicating the significant contribution of local emissions. An optical closure experiment is conducted to better understand uncertainties of the measurements. Good correlations (<i>R</i>>0.98) are found between values measured by nephelometer and values calculated with a modified Mie model. Monte Carlo simulations show an uncertainty of about 30% for the calculations. Considering all possible uncertainties of measurements, calculated &sigma;<sub>sp</sub> and &sigma;<sub>bsp</sub> agree well with measured values, indicating a stable performance of instruments and thus a reliable aerosol optical data.

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