An Analysis of the Characteristics of Aerosol Light Scattering Coefficients at Seoul and Baengnyeongdo

This study investigates long-term trends and characteristics of aerosol light scattering coefficient at Seoul and Baengnyeongdo in order to understand aerosol optical and radiative properties around Korea. The analysis period is limited to one year of 2011. First, the aerosol scattering coefficients (${\sigma}_{sp}$) of both sites show strong linear dependence on the $PM_{2.5}$ mass concentrations with significant correlations between both. Further, correlations and sensitivity between ${\sigma}_{sp}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ increase with relative humidity, implying both relationships are strongly dependent upon moisture amounts in the atmosphere. This study applied 3-step careful quality control procedures to the analysis of ${\sigma}_{sp}$ for the insurance of data confidence. For the relationship analysis of extinction coefficients (${\sigma}_{ext}$) to visibility and aerosol optical depth, ${\sigma}_{sp}$ observed at 3 p.m. have been used with help of aerosol absorption coefficients (${\sigma}_{ap}$) in order to remove its dependence upon relative humidity, and also those of rainy period have been excluded. As expected, ${\sigma}_{ext}$ estimated are inversely proportional to visibility observation by eye. Finally, aerosol extinction coefficients have been vertically integrated with an assumption of nearly well-mixed within an e-folding height to determine aerosol optical depth, and compared with those retrieved from sunphotometer. The results show a reasonable agreement in spite of an inherent difference of each definition. We expect these findings would help to eventually understand aerosol radiative forcing and its effect on the regional climate change around Korea.

서울과 백령도의 에어로솔 산란계수 특성 분석