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GACP Datasets

Kapustin Dataset

We plan to combine aerosol size distribution data collected by UH during the past decade around the Pacific Basin as part of our field experiments. We will assemble the aerosol data in order to provide spatial, temporal and regional characterization of aerosol fields over the North and South Pacific.

The type of data we have (vary for different experiments):

  • Total number concentration of CN with Dp>15 nm and CN with Dp>5 nm using TSI 3010 and 3025 particle counters, respectively.
  • Particle number size distribution from 5-20 to 5000 nm diameter using an UDMPS, DMPS and OPC.
  • Total aerosol light scattering and the backscattered fraction at wavelengths of 450, 550, and 700 nm.
  • Total aerosol light absorption at 500 nm using a PSAP.

Aircraft vertical profiles (about 100) of aerosol size distributions and light-scattering (often for both coarse and fine aerosol at 3 wavelengths) will be used to characterize vertical structure and to link it to concurrent satellite retrievals of column aerosol optical depth. Some airborne experiments (GLOBE, ACE1) also allow us to extend in-situ aerosol measurements in order to compare and interpret aerosol fields in the troposphere characterized concurrently by airborne lidar.

We plan to put our in-situ data in context and to identify links to regional meteorological regimes and processes. Size resolved aerosol types will include dust, pollution, sea-salt, sulfates and clean cloud-processed air. Characteristics will be identified that are associated with meteorological regimes in the Pacific such as the westerlies, subtropical trade-wind and equatorial regions. Interhemispheric differences will be identified as well as transitional boundaries established by the Intertropical Convergence Zones (ITCZ) and the South Pacific Convergence Zones (SPCZ). Aircraft data will extend this characterization to altitudes of 6 to 10km depending upon the specific flight missions over the Pacific (about 1 month each) that we have participated in (GLOBE1, GLOBE2, CPACE, ACE1, PEM-Tropics). We will focus on aerosol sizes of immediate consequence to radiative transfer (direct effect) but will also characterize smaller aerosol sizes whose behavior is often associated with the source, transport and removal of aerosol. Regional aerosol size and optical parameters will be described suitable for modeling purposes and placed in a meteorological context. In nearest future all the data will be made available on our website.

Currently an airborne aerosol data from UH group for PEM-Tropics A and ACE-1 can be found at:

Vladimir Kapustin
Dept. of Oceanography
1000 Pope Rd.
Honolulu, HI 96822
kapustin@soest.hawaii.edu
Ph. 808-956-7777
Fax 808-956-7112