Application of a high-temporal resolution model for the identification of columnar aerosol components

A high-temporal resolution model for the identification of columnar aerosol composition was applied to two sets of radiometric measurements obtained one in a semi-rural site of South Italy and the other in an urban/traffic site of the Po Valley, northern Italy. Inputs of the model are the spectral Aerosol Optical Depths (AODs) from direct solar radiation data to derive the contribution to the total extinction of nine aerosol species, i. e Water Soluble (WS), Black Carbon (BC), Sea Salt accumulation (SSacc), Sea Salt coarse (SScoa), Biogenic (Bio), Mineral Coarse (Mcoa), Mineral Accumulation (Macc), Small Organic Matter (SOM), and Large Organic Matter (LOM). In order to better parameterize the absorptive properties of dust and organic particles, a wavelength dependent imaginary part of the refractive index was used for dust and organics. Despite the differences between the two sites, a prevalence of fine aerosols (organics, WS and BC) was found in both cases suggesting the relevance of anthropogenic sources such as traffic. The retrieved AOD BC component was compared to Equivalent BC (EBC) concentrations measured in situ by an aethalometer at both sites. For mean daily values good correlations were found (R2 = 0.7), whereas high-temporal resolution (hourly basis) columnar composition was verified to be more reliable in cases of surface-column coupling. The possibility to apply this simple model to direct irradiance data from portable radiometers in areas where no routine measurements are available, and obtaining results with an increased temporal resolution, can help to gather information on aerosol columnar composition to be used in radiative, climate and transport models.