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| Titel |
Ability of the MAX-DOAS method to derive profile information for NO2: can the boundary layer and free troposphere be separated? |
| VerfasserIn |
T. Vlemmix, A. J. M. Piters, A. J. C. Berkhout, L. F. L. Gast, P. Wang, P. F. Levelt |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
1867-1381
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Atmospheric Measurement Techniques ; 4, no. 12 ; Nr. 4, no. 12 (2011-12-09), S.2659-2684 |
| Datensatznummer |
250002146
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/amt-4-2659-2011.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
Multiple Axis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS)
instruments can measure from the ground the absorption by nitrogen dioxide
(NO2) of scattered sunlight seen in multiple viewing directions. This
paper studies the potential of this technique to derive the vertical
distribution of NO2 in the troposphere. Such profile information is
essential for detailed comparisons of MAX-DOAS retrievals with other measurement techniques for NO2, e.g. with a lidar or from space.
The retrieval algorithm used is based on a pre-calculated look-up table and
assumes homogeneous mixing of aerosols and NO2 in layers extending
from the surface to a variable height. Two retrieval models are compared: one
including and one excluding an elevated NO2 layer at a fixed altitude
in the free troposphere. An ensemble technique is applied to derive retrieval uncertainties.
Sensitivity studies demonstrate that NO2 in the free troposphere can only be retrieved accurately
if: (i) the retrieved boundary layer profiles for aerosols and NO2 correspond to the real ones,
(ii) if the right a-priori choice is made for the (average) height of free tropospheric NO2, and (iii)
if all other error sources are very low. It is shown that retrieval models that are capable of accurate
NO2 retrievals in the free troposphere, i.e. models not constrained too much by a-priori assumptions,
have as a major disadvantage that they will frequently find free tropospheric NO2, also when it is not
present in reality. This is a consequence of the fact that NO2 in the free troposphere is poorly
constrained by the MAX-DOAS observations, especially for high aerosol optical thickness values in the
boundary layer. Retrieval of free tropospheric NO2 is therefore sensitive to a large number of error
sources. For this reason it is advised to firmly constrain free tropospheric NO2 in MAX-DOAS retrieval
models used for applications such as satellite validation. This effectively makes free tropospheric NO2
a source of error for MAX-DOAS retrieval of NO2 profiles in the boundary layer.
A comparison was performed with independent data, based on MAX-DOAS observations done
at the CINDI campaign, held in the Netherlands in 2009. Comparison with lidar
partial tropospheric NO2 columns showed a correlation of 0.78, and an
average difference of 0.1× 1015 molec cm−2. The diurnal
evolution of the NO2 volume mixing ratio measured by in-situ monitors
at the surface and averaged over five days with cloud-free mornings, compares
well to the MAX-DOAS retrieval: a correlation was found of 0.94, and an
average difference of 0.04 ppb. |
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