POLIPHON conversion factors for retrieving dust-related cloud condensation nuclei and ice-nucleating particle concentration profiles at oceanic sites

Aerosol-cloud interactions (ACIs) are the largest contributor to the uncertainty in the global radiation budget. To improve the current consideration of ACIs in global circulation models, it is necessary to characterize the 3-D distribution of dust-related cloud condensation nuclei concentration (CCNC) and ice-nucleating particle concentration (INPC) globally. This can potentially be realized using the POlarization LIdar PHOtometer Networking (POLIPHON) method together with spaceborne lidar observations. However, dust-related conversion factors that convert bulk aerosol optical properties from lidar measurements to aerosol microphysical properties are still less constrained in many regions, which limits the applications of the POLIPHON method. Here we retrieve the essential dust-related conversion factors at remote oceanic and coastal sites using the historical AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) database. Depolarization-ratio-based dust ratios R-d at 1020 nm are applied to identify the dust-occurring cases, thus enabling us to contain fine-mode dust-dominated cases (after the preferential removal of large-sized dust particles during transport), study the evolution of dust microphysical properties along the transoceanic pathway, and mitigate occasional interference of large-sized marine aerosols. The newly proposed scheme is proven to be valid and feasible by intercomparisons with previous studies at nine sites in/near deserts. The dust-related conversion factors are calculated at 20 oceanic and coastal sites using both pure dust (PD) and PD plus dust-dominated mixture (PD+DDM) datasets. At nearly half of the sites, the conversion factors are solely calculated using the PD datasets, while at the remaining sites, the participation of DDM datasets is required to ensure a sufficient number of data for the calculation. Evident variation trends in conversion factors are found for c(v),(d) (extinction-to-volume concentration, gradually decreasing), c(250),d (extinction-to-particle (with a radius > 250 nm) number concentration, gradually increasing), and c(s),(d) (extinction-to-surface-area concentration, gradually decreasing) along both the transpacific and transatlantic dust transport pathways. The retrieved dust-related conversion factors are anticipated to inverse 3-D dust-related CCNC and INPC distributions globally, thereby improving the understanding of ACIs in atmospheric circulation models.

Automated summary

Characterizing the 3-D distribution of dust-related cloud condensation nuclei concentration and ice-nucleating particle concentration globally is crucial in improving the current consideration of ACIs in global circulation models. The POlarization LIdar PHOtometer Networking (POLIPHON) method, combined with spaceborne lidar observations, shows potential in achieving this. However, the conversion factors that convert aerosol optical properties to microphysical properties are still less constrained in many regions, limiting the applications of this method.