Satellite-Surface Perspectives of Air Quality and Aerosol-Cloud Effects on the Environment: An Overview of 7-SEAS/BASELInE

• Published in: Aerosol and Air Quality Research Vol. 16; no. 11; pp. 2581 - 2602
• Main Authors: Tsay, Si-Chee, Maring, Hal B., Lin, Neng-Huei, Buntoung, Sumaman, Chantara, Somporn, Chuang, Hsiao-Chi, Gabriel, Philip M., Goodloe, Colby S., Holben, Brent N., Hsiao, Ta-Chih, Hsu, Nai-Yung Christina, Janjai, Serm, Lau, William K. M., Lee, Chung-Te, Lee, Jaehwa, Loftus, Adrian M., Nguyen, Anh X., Nguyen, Cuong M., Pani, Shantanu K., Pantina, Peter, Sayer, Andrew M., Tao, Wei-Kuo, Wang, Sheng-Hsiang, Welton, Ellsworth J., Wiriya, Wan, Yen, Ming-Cheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Goddard Space Flight Center 社團法人台灣氣膠研究學會 01.11.2016; Taiwan Association for Aerosol Research (TAAR)
• Subjects: Earth Resources And Remote Sensing; Environment Pollution; Air Quality; 7-SEAS; BASELInE; Biomass-burning; Aerosol; Cloud; Aerosols; 7-Seas; Aeronet
• ISSN: 1680-8584; 2071-1409
• DOI: 10.4209/aaqr.2016.08.0350

The objectives of 7-SEASBASELInE (Seven SouthEast Asian Studies Biomass-burning Aerosols and Stratocumulus Environment: Lifecycles and Interactions Experiment) campaigns in spring 2013-2015 were to synergize measurements from uniquely distributed ground-based networks (e.g., AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork)), MPLNET ( NASA Micro-Pulse Lidar Network)) and sophisticated platforms (e.g.,SMARTLabs (Surface-based Mobile Atmospheric Research and Testbed Laboratories), regional contributing instruments), along with satellite observations retrievals and regional atmospheric transport chemical models to establish a critically needed database, and to advance our understanding of biomass-burning aerosols and trace gases in Southeast Asia (SEA). We present a satellite-surface perspective of 7-SEASBASELInE and highlight scientific findings concerning: (1) regional meteorology of moisture fields conducive to the production and maintenance of low-level stratiform clouds over land; (2) atmospheric composition in a biomass-burning environment, particularly tracers-markers to serve as important indicators for assessing the state and evolution of atmospheric constituents; (3) applications of remote sensing to air quality and impact on radiative energetics, examining the effect of diurnal variability of boundary-layer height on aerosol loading; (4) aerosol hygroscopicity and ground-based cloud radar measurements in aerosol-cloud processes by advanced cloud ensemble models; and (5) implications of air quality, in terms of toxicity of nanoparticles and trace gases, to human health. This volume is the third 7-SEAS special issue (after Atmospheric Research, vol. 122, 2013; and Atmospheric Environment, vol. 78, 2013) and includes 27 papers published, with emphasis on air quality and aerosol-cloud effects on the environment. BASELInE observations of stratiform clouds over SEA are unique, such clouds are embedded in a heavy aerosol-laden environment and feature characteristically greater stability over land than over ocean, with minimal radar surface clutter at a high vertical spatial resolution. To facilitate an improved understanding of regional aerosol-cloud effects, we envision that future BASELInE-like measurement modeling needs fall into two categories: (1) efficient yet critical in-situ profiling of the boundary layer for validating remote-sensing retrievals and for initializing regional transport chemical and cloud ensemble models; and (2) fully utilizing the high observing frequencies of geostationary satellites for resolving the diurnal cycle of the boundary layerheight as it affects the loading of biomass-burning aerosols, air quality and radiative energetics.