Exploring radiative forcing sensitivity to aerosol optical properties across varied geographical regions in India

Abstract

Climate change remains a pressing global concern, with aerosols emerging as pivotal elements that wield substantial influence over the Earth’s climate dynamics. Aerosols, minuscule solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere, exhibit a size range spanning from nanometers to tens of micrometers. Their impact on the atmosphere’s temperature is dual, engendering either warming or cooling effects, contingent upon the aerosol type. Consequently, it becomes imperative to comprehensively grasp the intricacies of aerosols and their inherent characteristics. In this study, we center our attention on the investigation of key aerosol optical properties, specifically the asymmetry parameter (ASY), aerosol optical depth (AOD), and single scattering albedo (SSA). Our research delves into the spatio-temporal distribution patterns of these aerosol optical properties across four distinct locations within India, namely Gandhi College, Kanpur, Jaipur, and Pune. These selected sites encompass the major classifications of aerosols, encompassing both anthropogenic and natural sources. Within the purview of these available aerosol optical properties, we endeavor to quantify the direct aerosol radiative forcing (DARF). To further enhance the rigor of our findings, we employ the control variable method to assess the uncertainty associated with direct aerosol radiative forcing concerning aerosol optical properties. Our results underscore that the asymmetry parameter (ASY) exerts a relatively minor influence on DARF, while single scattering albedo (SSA) and aerosol optical depth (AOD) wield substantial impact. Furthermore, this influence is contingent upon the specific aerosol type and exhibits notable regional variations, as different parameters manifest diverse effects contingent upon their respective geographical contexts.