Evaluation of aerosol optical depths and clear-sky radiative fluxes of the CERES Edition 4.1 SYN1deg data product

Aerosol optical depths (AODs) used for the Edition 4.1 Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Synoptic 1 degrees (SYN1deg) product are evaluated. AODs are derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observations and assimilated by an aerosol transport model (the Model for Atmospheric Transport and Chemistry - MATCH). As a consequence, clear-sky AODs closely match with those derived from MODIS instruments. AODs under all-sky conditions are larger than AODs under clear-sky conditions, which is supported by ground-based AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) observations. When all-sky MATCH AODs are compared with Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications (Version 2; MERRA-2) AODs, MATCH AODs are generally larger than MERRA-2 AODs, especially over convective regions (e.g., the Amazon, central Africa, and eastern Asia). This variation is largely due to the differing methods of assimilating the MODIS AOD data product and the use of quality flags in our assimilation. Including AODs with larger retrieval uncertainty makes AODs over the convective regions larger. When AODs are used for clear-sky irradiance computations and computed downward shortwave irradiances are compared with ground-based observations, the computed instantaneous irradiances are 1 %-2 % larger than observed irradiances. The comparison of top-of-atmosphere clear-sky irradiances with those derived from CERES observations suggests that AODs used for surface radiation observation sites are 0.01-0.03 larger, which is within the uncertainty of instantaneous MODIS AODs. However, the comparison with AERONET AODs suggests that AODs used for computations over desert sites are 0.08 larger. The cause of positive biases in downward shortwave irradiance and in AOD for the desert sites is possibly due to the dust particle size and distribution, as defined by the MATCH transport model, and the transfer of that information into the radiative transfer model.

Automated summary

This article evaluates the aerosol optical depths (AODs) used for the CERES SYN1deg product and finds that clear-sky AODs closely match with those derived from MODIS instruments, while all-sky AODs are larger. The comparison with other data sources suggests that MATCH AODs are generally larger than MERRA-2 AODs, especially over convective regions. The positive biases in downward shortwave irradiance and AOD for desert sites may be due to dust particle size and distribution.