Mission
 |
The Atmospheric Optics Group of Valladolid University (GOA-UVa) is involved in the study of atmospheric components, mainly aerosols, with optical methods. The GOA calibration facility is devoted to radiometric calibration of optical instrumentations such as photometers, and it is part of the AERONET-Europe Central Facility, partially funded by the European Union. As a university group, our researchers carry out educational and training activity (graduate, master and PhD thesis). In this site you can find information about the work of the group, members, research lines, publications, projects, vacancies, etc. |
Latests 5 Publications
2023
6.
Elena Bazo; María J. Granados-Muñoz; Roberto Román; Juan Antonio Bravo-Aranda; Alberto Cazorla; Antonio Valenzuela; Ramiro González; Francisco José Olmo; Lucas Alados-Arboledas
In: Atmospheric Research, vol. 282, pp. 106517, 2023, ISSN: 0169-8095.
@article{Bazo2023,
title = {Evaluation of the vertically-resolved aerosol radiative effect on shortwave and longwave ranges using sun-sky photometer and ceilometer measurements},
author = {Elena Bazo and María J. Granados-Muñoz and Roberto Román and Juan Antonio Bravo-Aranda and Alberto Cazorla and Antonio Valenzuela and Ramiro González and Francisco José Olmo and Lucas Alados-Arboledas},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169809522005038},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2022.106517},
issn = {0169-8095},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
urldate = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Atmospheric Research},
volume = {282},
pages = {106517},
abstract = {The aerosol radiative effect (ARE) is one of the atmospheric components still affected by large uncertainty. One of the causes is related to the fact that the longwave (LW) component is usually neglected, even though it is necessary for an accurate quantification of the ARE together with the shortwave component (SW). In this study we have developed a methodology based on the GAME (Global Atmospheric Model) radiative transfer model (RTM) that allows to obtain the radiative effect of the atmospheric aerosol for both spectral ranges in an automated way. The microphysical and optical properties necessary to feed the RTM have been obtained through the GRASP (Generalized Retrieval of Aerosol and Surface Properties) algorithm, with the combination of ceilometer and sun-sky photometer data. Data measured in Granada (Spain) during 2017 have been used for the evaluation and implementation of this methodology. According to the results, the ARE in the SW spectral range (ARESW) varies between 0 and ? 50 Wm?2 for most of the data, whereas the ARE in the LW range (ARELW) varies between 0 and 5 Wm?2, at heights near the surface. In general, the obtained results agree with those found in the literature, with negative values in the SW range (cooling effect) and positive values in the LW (heating effect). The seasonal analysis shows that, for both components, the ARE is more important during the spring and summer seasons, when the aerosol load is greater, as expected. The analysis of the aerosol heating rate (AHR) shows positive values in the SW and negative values in the LW range. The majority of the AHRSW data varies between 0 and 1 Kd?1 during the year whereas the AHRLW does it between 0 and ? 0.15 Kd?1. The seasonal analysis of the AHR shows that the greater monthly average values are found during spring, however there is not much variability along the year, with the exception of February, under the effects of an extreme dust intrusion. The mineral dust particles in this event cause an ARESW of ?130 Wm?2 and an ARELW of 23 Wm?2 (ARELW/ARESW = 17%), thus pointing out that the LW component should not be neglected for coarse mode particles. Additionally, it is observed that the vertical distribution of the aerosol layers strongly influences the ARE and the AHR obtained profiles, affecting the way the atmospheric cooling/heating occurs in the vertical coordinate.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The aerosol radiative effect (ARE) is one of the atmospheric components still affected by large uncertainty. One of the causes is related to the fact that the longwave (LW) component is usually neglected, even though it is necessary for an accurate quantification of the ARE together with the shortwave component (SW). In this study we have developed a methodology based on the GAME (Global Atmospheric Model) radiative transfer model (RTM) that allows to obtain the radiative effect of the atmospheric aerosol for both spectral ranges in an automated way. The microphysical and optical properties necessary to feed the RTM have been obtained through the GRASP (Generalized Retrieval of Aerosol and Surface Properties) algorithm, with the combination of ceilometer and sun-sky photometer data. Data measured in Granada (Spain) during 2017 have been used for the evaluation and implementation of this methodology. According to the results, the ARE in the SW spectral range (ARESW) varies between 0 and ? 50 Wm?2 for most of the data, whereas the ARE in the LW range (ARELW) varies between 0 and 5 Wm?2, at heights near the surface. In general, the obtained results agree with those found in the literature, with negative values in the SW range (cooling effect) and positive values in the LW (heating effect). The seasonal analysis shows that, for both components, the ARE is more important during the spring and summer seasons, when the aerosol load is greater, as expected. The analysis of the aerosol heating rate (AHR) shows positive values in the SW and negative values in the LW range. The majority of the AHRSW data varies between 0 and 1 Kd?1 during the year whereas the AHRLW does it between 0 and ? 0.15 Kd?1. The seasonal analysis of the AHR shows that the greater monthly average values are found during spring, however there is not much variability along the year, with the exception of February, under the effects of an extreme dust intrusion. The mineral dust particles in this event cause an ARESW of ?130 Wm?2 and an ARELW of 23 Wm?2 (ARELW/ARESW = 17%), thus pointing out that the LW component should not be neglected for coarse mode particles. Additionally, it is observed that the vertical distribution of the aerosol layers strongly influences the ARE and the AHR obtained profiles, affecting the way the atmospheric cooling/heating occurs in the vertical coordinate.
7.
Barja, B.; Rosas, J.; Cachorro, V. E.; Toledano, C.; Antuña-Marrero, J. C.; Estevan, R.; de Frutos, A.
Surface shortwave cloud radiative effect of cumulus and stratocumulus-cumulus cloud types in the Caribbean area (Camagüey Cuba, 2010-2016) Journal Article
In: 36, vol. (1), pp. 41–56, 2023.
@article{Barja2023,
title = {Surface shortwave cloud radiative effect of cumulus and stratocumulus-cumulus cloud types in the Caribbean area (Camagüey Cuba, 2010-2016)},
author = {Barja, B. and Rosas, J. and Cachorro, V. E. and Toledano, C. and Antuña-Marrero, J. C. and Estevan, R. and de Frutos, A.},
editor = {Atmósfera},
doi = {10.20937/ATM.52858},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
journal = {36},
volume = {(1)},
pages = {41–56},
abstract = {The effects of cumulus (Cu) clouds and the combination of stratocumulus-cumulus (Sc-Cu) clouds on solar radiation at the Earth’s surface were evaluated at Camagüey, Cuba, during a 6-yr period (from June 2010 to May 2016). Two methods to calculate the cloud radiative effect (CRE) were employed. The first method (CREm) uses solar irradiances in cloudy conditions from actinometric observations, where cloud information was also reported by visual observation. In the second method (CRE0) surface solar irradiances were estimated for both cloudy and clear sky conditions using a 1-D radiative transfer model, and cloud optical depth (COD) retrieved from an AERONET sun-photometer as the main input. A temporal correspondence criterion between COD retrievals and actinometric observations was performed in order to classify the COD of each cloud type. After the application of this criterion, the COD belonging to the optically thin clouds was removed. Finally, 255 and 732 COD observations for Cu and Sc-Cu, respectively, were found. Results show a statistically significant difference at the 95% confidence level between CRE calculated for Sc-Cu and Cu, using both methods. Mean values of CREm and CRE0 for Cu (Sc-Cu) were ?442 (?390) and ?460 (?417) Wm–2, respectively. CRE0 shows a linear relation with ln(COD), with stronger correlation at a lower solar zenith angle. The shortwave cloud effect efficiency (CEE) for the two cloud types sharply decreases with the increase of the COD value up to 20. For larger COD, the CEE is less sensitive to the increase of COD.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The effects of cumulus (Cu) clouds and the combination of stratocumulus-cumulus (Sc-Cu) clouds on solar radiation at the Earth’s surface were evaluated at Camagüey, Cuba, during a 6-yr period (from June 2010 to May 2016). Two methods to calculate the cloud radiative effect (CRE) were employed. The first method (CREm) uses solar irradiances in cloudy conditions from actinometric observations, where cloud information was also reported by visual observation. In the second method (CRE0) surface solar irradiances were estimated for both cloudy and clear sky conditions using a 1-D radiative transfer model, and cloud optical depth (COD) retrieved from an AERONET sun-photometer as the main input. A temporal correspondence criterion between COD retrievals and actinometric observations was performed in order to classify the COD of each cloud type. After the application of this criterion, the COD belonging to the optically thin clouds was removed. Finally, 255 and 732 COD observations for Cu and Sc-Cu, respectively, were found. Results show a statistically significant difference at the 95% confidence level between CRE calculated for Sc-Cu and Cu, using both methods. Mean values of CREm and CRE0 for Cu (Sc-Cu) were ?442 (?390) and ?460 (?417) Wm–2, respectively. CRE0 shows a linear relation with ln(COD), with stronger correlation at a lower solar zenith angle. The shortwave cloud effect efficiency (CEE) for the two cloud types sharply decreases with the increase of the COD value up to 20. For larger COD, the CEE is less sensitive to the increase of COD.
2022
8.
R.D. García; O.E. García; E. Cuevas-Agulló; A. Barreto; V.E. Cachorro; C. Marrero; F. Almansa; R. Ramos; M. Pó
Spectral Aerosol Radiative Forcing and Efficiency of the La Palma Volcanic Plume over the Izaña Observatory Journal Article
In: Remote Sensing, vol. 15(1), no. 17, 2022, ISSN: 2072-4292.
@article{García2022b,
title = {Spectral Aerosol Radiative Forcing and Efficiency of the La Palma Volcanic Plume over the Izaña Observatory},
author = {R.D. García and O.E. García and E. Cuevas-Agulló and A. Barreto and V.E. Cachorro and C. Marrero and F. Almansa and R. Ramos and M. Pó},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/15/1/173},
doi = {10.3390/rs15010173},
issn = {2072-4292},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-12-28},
urldate = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Remote Sensing},
volume = {15(1)},
number = {17},
abstract = {On 19 September 2021, a volcanic eruption began on the island of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain). The eruption has allowed the assessment of an unprecedented multidisciplinary study on the effects of the volcanic plume. This work presents the estimation of the spectral direct radiative forcing (ΔF) and efficiency (ΔFEff) from solar radiation measurements at the Izaña Observatory (IZO) located on the island of Tenerife (∼140 km from the volcano). During the eruption, the IZO was affected by different types of aerosols: volcanic, Saharan mineral dust, and a mixture of volcanic and dust aerosols. Three case studies were identified using ground-based (lidar) data, satellite-based (Sentinel-5P Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument, TROPOMI) data, reanalysis data (Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2, MERRA-2), and backward trajectories (Flexible Trajectories, FLEXTRA), and subsequently characterised in terms of optical and micro-physical properties using ground-based sun-photometry measurements. Despite the ΔF of the volcanic aerosols being greater than that of the dust events (associated with the larger aerosol load present), the ΔFEff was found to be lower. The spectral ΔFEff values at 440 nm ranged between −1.9 and −2.6 Wm−2nm−1AOD−1 for the mineral dust and mixed volcanic and dust particles, and between −1.6 and −3.3 Wm−2nm−1AOD−1 for the volcanic aerosols, considering solar zenith angles between 30∘ and 70∘, respectively.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
On 19 September 2021, a volcanic eruption began on the island of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain). The eruption has allowed the assessment of an unprecedented multidisciplinary study on the effects of the volcanic plume. This work presents the estimation of the spectral direct radiative forcing (ΔF) and efficiency (ΔFEff) from solar radiation measurements at the Izaña Observatory (IZO) located on the island of Tenerife (∼140 km from the volcano). During the eruption, the IZO was affected by different types of aerosols: volcanic, Saharan mineral dust, and a mixture of volcanic and dust aerosols. Three case studies were identified using ground-based (lidar) data, satellite-based (Sentinel-5P Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument, TROPOMI) data, reanalysis data (Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2, MERRA-2), and backward trajectories (Flexible Trajectories, FLEXTRA), and subsequently characterised in terms of optical and micro-physical properties using ground-based sun-photometry measurements. Despite the ΔF of the volcanic aerosols being greater than that of the dust events (associated with the larger aerosol load present), the ΔFEff was found to be lower. The spectral ΔFEff values at 440 nm ranged between −1.9 and −2.6 Wm−2nm−1AOD−1 for the mineral dust and mixed volcanic and dust particles, and between −1.6 and −3.3 Wm−2nm−1AOD−1 for the volcanic aerosols, considering solar zenith angles between 30∘ and 70∘, respectively.
9.
D. Cappelletti; C. Petroselli; D. Mateos; M. Herreras; L. Ferrero; N. Losi; A. Gregori; C. Frangipani; G. La Porta; M. Lonardi; D. G. Chernov; A. Dekhtyareva
Vertical profiles of black carbon and nanoparticles pollutants measured by a tethered balloon in Longyearbyen (Svalbard islands) Journal Article
In: Atmospheric Environment, vol. 290, pp. 119373, 2022, ISSN: 1352-2310.
@article{CAPPELLETTI2022119373,
title = {Vertical profiles of black carbon and nanoparticles pollutants measured by a tethered balloon in Longyearbyen (Svalbard islands)},
author = {D. Cappelletti and C. Petroselli and D. Mateos and M. Herreras and L. Ferrero and N. Losi and A. Gregori and C. Frangipani and G. La Porta and M. Lonardi and D. G. Chernov and A. Dekhtyareva},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231022004381},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2022.119373},
issn = {1352-2310},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-09-09},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Atmospheric Environment},
volume = {290},
pages = {119373},
abstract = {Airborne meteorological and aerosol measurements have been performed in Longyearbyen (Svalbard islands) in the summer of 2018, coupling an instrumental aerosol payload with a meteorological radiosonde deployed on a tethered balloon. More than 70 vertical profiles of aerosol and meteorological properties have been recorded up to a maximum altitude of 1.2 km. As a main result, the present work provides a homogeneous gridded dataset of vertical profiles of equivalent black carbon (eBC) and nanoparticles (NP) concentrations and associated meteorological data (temperature, T, relative humidity, RH, pressure, P) to be employed for future modelling studies of Arctic pollution. Mean values (±SD) of eBC and NP below 500 m were 110 ± 10 ng m?3 and 1400 ± 400 particles cm?3, respectively. Mean values above 500 m were 150 ± 30 ng m?3 and 1000 ± 350 particles cm?3, respectively. Group medians of maximum eBC and NP concentrations in vertical profiles with temperature inversions were significantly higher than for those without inversion. The dataset has been complemented by continuous ground measurements of eBC with an average value of 208 ± 130 ng m?3 (median value 110 ± 70 ng m?3) for the entire campaign; the ground-based background (absence of local emission) eBC value was below 100 ng m?3 while maximum values were in the 1000–2000 ng m?3 range. Median eBC concentration measured at ground for 2 h before the tethered balloon launch was higher when temperature inversion was observed. The ground-based measurements, coupled with aerosol optical depth measurements, allowed for a preliminary discussion of two case studies related to high pollutants concentration events.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Airborne meteorological and aerosol measurements have been performed in Longyearbyen (Svalbard islands) in the summer of 2018, coupling an instrumental aerosol payload with a meteorological radiosonde deployed on a tethered balloon. More than 70 vertical profiles of aerosol and meteorological properties have been recorded up to a maximum altitude of 1.2 km. As a main result, the present work provides a homogeneous gridded dataset of vertical profiles of equivalent black carbon (eBC) and nanoparticles (NP) concentrations and associated meteorological data (temperature, T, relative humidity, RH, pressure, P) to be employed for future modelling studies of Arctic pollution. Mean values (±SD) of eBC and NP below 500 m were 110 ± 10 ng m?3 and 1400 ± 400 particles cm?3, respectively. Mean values above 500 m were 150 ± 30 ng m?3 and 1000 ± 350 particles cm?3, respectively. Group medians of maximum eBC and NP concentrations in vertical profiles with temperature inversions were significantly higher than for those without inversion. The dataset has been complemented by continuous ground measurements of eBC with an average value of 208 ± 130 ng m?3 (median value 110 ± 70 ng m?3) for the entire campaign; the ground-based background (absence of local emission) eBC value was below 100 ng m?3 while maximum values were in the 1000–2000 ng m?3 range. Median eBC concentration measured at ground for 2 h before the tethered balloon launch was higher when temperature inversion was observed. The ground-based measurements, coupled with aerosol optical depth measurements, allowed for a preliminary discussion of two case studies related to high pollutants concentration events.
10.
Javier Vaquero-Martínez; André F. Bagorrilha; Manuel Antón; Juan C. Antuña-Marrero; Victoria E. Cachorro
Comparison of CIMEL sun-photometer and ground-based GNSS integrated water vapor over south-western European sites Journal Article
In: Atmospheric Research, vol. 275, pp. 106217, 2022, ISSN: 0169-8095.
@article{Vaquero-Martínez2022,
title = {Comparison of CIMEL sun-photometer and ground-based GNSS integrated water vapor over south-western European sites},
author = {Javier Vaquero-Martínez and André F. Bagorrilha and Manuel Antón and Juan C. Antuña-Marrero and Victoria E. Cachorro},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169809522002034},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2022.106217},
issn = {0169-8095},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-09-01},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Atmospheric Research},
volume = {275},
pages = {106217},
abstract = {This work analyzes the integrated water vapor (IWV) measured at six Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) stations with nearby global navigation satellite system (GNSS) in the Iberian Peninsula for the period 2007–2018. It is shown that both instruments have a high correlation (R2 > 0.91), with small mbe below 1.5 mm and standard deviation (SD) below 2 mm. However, some dependences have been observed when MBE and SD are represented in bins of three variables: IWV, solar zenith angle (SZA), and aerosol optical depth (AOD). The greater or lesser amount of water vapor in the atmosphere seemed to be the more influential variable, increasing dry bias and SD with increasing IWV. Moreover, high SZA values were related to SD increases. A clear seasonal cycle for Cimel–GNSS differences was observed which was mainly related to IWV seasonal cycle. Additionally, AOD did not show a remarkable influence on Cimel–GNSS differences. Finally, the monthly differences are also analyzed with metadata information about Cimel device ID numbers, showing that, for long-term studies, this information can be very valuable.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This work analyzes the integrated water vapor (IWV) measured at six Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) stations with nearby global navigation satellite system (GNSS) in the Iberian Peninsula for the period 2007–2018. It is shown that both instruments have a high correlation (R2 > 0.91), with small mbe below 1.5 mm and standard deviation (SD) below 2 mm. However, some dependences have been observed when MBE and SD are represented in bins of three variables: IWV, solar zenith angle (SZA), and aerosol optical depth (AOD). The greater or lesser amount of water vapor in the atmosphere seemed to be the more influential variable, increasing dry bias and SD with increasing IWV. Moreover, high SZA values were related to SD increases. A clear seasonal cycle for Cimel–GNSS differences was observed which was mainly related to IWV seasonal cycle. Additionally, AOD did not show a remarkable influence on Cimel–GNSS differences. Finally, the monthly differences are also analyzed with metadata information about Cimel device ID numbers, showing that, for long-term studies, this information can be very valuable.