Aerosols – Remote Sensing and Transport Modelling

Aerosols are suspensions of small liquid and solid particles present as traces in the atmosphere. They originate from natural or anthropogenic sources. They are a significant factor in air quality and climate at local, regional and global scales. The most advanced aerosol measurements are made using remote sensing techniques, based on light interaction with particles from atmosphere. Active remote sensing systems (lidars) emit light from a laser and measure the backscattered light. Passive remote sensing systems (sunphotometers) measure the scattering of light emitted by the sun. Satellites measure the solar light reflected by the Earth's surface. The purpose of the project is to develop new methods for aerosol identification and classification based on their optical properties, using ground-based remote sensing measurements and satellite imagery data and to improve the capabilities of aerosol numerical modelling in FLEXPART. The new methods will improve aerosols characterization over Austria. Data from Romanian and German stations near to Austria from the European lidar network EARLINET and the global sunphotometer network AERONET, and MACC products (integrating satellite data) from the European Copernicus Atmosphere Service will be used. The project proposes a new research approach for aerosol characterization, by integrating high resolution vertical profiles obtained from lidar measurements, extending from ground level to the free troposphere, with profiles from satellite measurements with lower resolution on altitude, but covering a larger area. Currently, Austria has no EARLINET or AERONET station. The benefits of a hypothetical lidar station in Vienna will be analyzed. The analysis will cover technical aspects and improvements in aerosol characterization over Austria and at the regional scale.