Publication Abstracts

Li et al. 2014

Li, J., B.E. Carlson, and A.A. Lacis, 2014: Application of spectral analysis techniques in the inter-comparison of aerosol data, Part III: Using combined PCA to compare spatio-temporal variability of MODIS, MISR and OMI aerosol optical depth. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 119, no. 7, 4017-4042, doi:10.1002/2013JD020538.

Satellite measurements of global aerosol properties are very useful in constraining aerosol parameterization in climate models. The reliability of different data sets in representing global and regional aerosol variability becomes an essential question. In this study, we present the results of a comparison using combined principal component analysis (CPCA), applied to monthly mean, mapped (Level 3) aerosol optical depth (AOD) product from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR), and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). This technique effectively finds the common space-time variability in the multiple data sets by decomposing the combined AOD field. The results suggest that all of the sensors capture the globally important aerosol regimes, including dust, biomass burning, pollution, and mixed aerosol types. Nonetheless, differences are also noted. Specifically, compared with MISR and OMI, MODIS variability is significantly higher over South America, India, and the Sahel. MODIS deep blue AOD has a lower seasonal variability in North Africa, accompanied by a decreasing trend that is not found in either MISR or OMI AOD data. The narrow swath of MISR results in an underestimation of dust variability over the Taklamakan Desert. The MISR AOD data also exhibit overall lower variability in South America and the Sahel. OMI does not capture the Russian wild fire in 2010 nor the phase shift in biomass burning over East South America compared to Central South America, likely due to cloud contamination and the OMI row anomaly. OMI also indicates a much stronger (boreal) winter peak in South Africa compared with MODIS and MISR.

Export citation: [ BibTeX ] [ RIS ]

BibTeX Citation

@article{li05600a,
  author={Li, J. and Carlson, B. E. and Lacis, A. A.},
  title={Application of spectral analysis techniques in the inter-comparison of aerosol data, Part III: Using combined PCA to compare spatio-temporal variability of MODIS, MISR and OMI aerosol optical depth},
  year={2014},
  journal={Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres},
  volume={119},
  number={7},
  pages={4017--4042},
  doi={10.1002/2013JD020538},
}

[ Close ]

RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - li05600a
AU  - Li, J.
AU  - Carlson, B. E.
AU  - Lacis, A. A.
PY  - 2014
TI  - Application of spectral analysis techniques in the inter-comparison of aerosol data, Part III: Using combined PCA to compare spatio-temporal variability of MODIS, MISR and OMI aerosol optical depth
JA  - J. Geophys. Res. Atmos.
JO  - Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
VL  - 119
IS  - 7
SP  - 4017
EP  - 4042
DO  - 10.1002/2013JD020538
ER  -

[ Close ]

• Return to 2014 Publications

• Return to Publications Homepage