(Hobbs 2000). Sea salt aerosols are among most abundant components of atmospheric aerosols, and thus they exert strong influence on radiation, cloud formation,
meteorology and chemistry of the marine atmosphere. An accurate understanding
and description of these mechanisms is crucial to modeling climate and climate
change (Smirnov et al. 2009, 2011). Secondary aerosol formation from gases
released from the sea surface and even ship emissions contribute significantly to
marine atmosphere aerosol loading.
It has been reported that the mass concentrations from sea spray aerosol and
desert dust show the largest aerosol contributions on a global scale (Andreae and
Rosenfeld 2008; Jickells et al. 2005; Lewis and Schwartz 2004; de Leeuw et al.
2011; Petelski et al. 2014). Aerosol particles are important both because they affect
atmospheric processes and, in case of the world’s oceans, after deposition to the sea
surface, because they affect processes in sea water.
Aerosols have a strong impact on climate both due to scattering and absorption
of incoming solar radiation (direct effect) and through their effects on cloud
properties and associated cloud albedo (first indirect effect) and precipitation
(second indirect effect). The appropriate correction of the atmospheric impact on the
registered signal is an important problem in the remote sensing of the Earth’s
surface, and it is especially significant in areas, such as the Baltic Sea basin, which
are very urbanized and industrialized. A thorough understanding and explanation of
aerosol impact on light transmission in the atmosphere requires knowledge of
aerosol optical properties, such as extinction, phase function and single scattering
albedo, as well as microphysical aerosol properties, such as size distribution and
light refractive index. This is especially relevant concerning knowledge of the real
and imaginary parts of the light refractive index on aerosol particles including
mineral dust additions (de Leeuw et al. 2011; Zielinski and Zielinski 2002). The
optical properties of dust particles are important in calculations of the solar radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface, and they force climatic changes in the areas
where their concentrations are high, e.g. Baltic Sea, a typical regional sea, surrounded by highly industrialized areas (Dzierzbicka-Głowacka et al. 2013).
The ground-based methods are, in principle, the easiest to use and the most
accurate monitoring systems. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) is the single most
comprehensive variable to remotely assess the aerosol burden in the atmosphere
using ground-based instruments. Knowledge of the real variations of this parameter
facilitates the solution of problems with solar radiation transmission through the
atmosphere as well as those concerned with climatology and remote sensing of the
seas and oceans. Therefore, the AOD is used in local studies on aerosols, their role
in atmospheric pollution and to make atmospheric corrections to satellite remotely
sensed data (Zielinski and Zielinski 2002).
Sea salt is the most characteristic type of marine aerosol, and it enters the
atmosphere due to the strong influence of wind on the sea surface. As a result, wind
waves are formed and the particles are precipitated from the wave crests. Emission
of sea salt to the atmosphere strongly depends on the force, speed and direction of
wind (Jacob et al. 1995). Marine aerosols also can be generated by rainfalls or
acoustic waves (Blanchard and Woodcock 1957; Blanchard 1963; Fitzgerald 1991).
8
A. Strzalkowska et al.
meteorology and chemistry of the marine atmosphere. An accurate understanding
and description of these mechanisms is crucial to modeling climate and climate
change (Smirnov et al. 2009, 2011). Secondary aerosol formation from gases
released from the sea surface and even ship emissions contribute significantly to
marine atmosphere aerosol loading.
It has been reported that the mass concentrations from sea spray aerosol and
desert dust show the largest aerosol contributions on a global scale (Andreae and
Rosenfeld 2008; Jickells et al. 2005; Lewis and Schwartz 2004; de Leeuw et al.
2011; Petelski et al. 2014). Aerosol particles are important both because they affect
atmospheric processes and, in case of the world’s oceans, after deposition to the sea
surface, because they affect processes in sea water.
Aerosols have a strong impact on climate both due to scattering and absorption
of incoming solar radiation (direct effect) and through their effects on cloud
properties and associated cloud albedo (first indirect effect) and precipitation
(second indirect effect). The appropriate correction of the atmospheric impact on the
registered signal is an important problem in the remote sensing of the Earth’s
surface, and it is especially significant in areas, such as the Baltic Sea basin, which
are very urbanized and industrialized. A thorough understanding and explanation of
aerosol impact on light transmission in the atmosphere requires knowledge of
aerosol optical properties, such as extinction, phase function and single scattering
albedo, as well as microphysical aerosol properties, such as size distribution and
light refractive index. This is especially relevant concerning knowledge of the real
and imaginary parts of the light refractive index on aerosol particles including
mineral dust additions (de Leeuw et al. 2011; Zielinski and Zielinski 2002). The
optical properties of dust particles are important in calculations of the solar radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface, and they force climatic changes in the areas
where their concentrations are high, e.g. Baltic Sea, a typical regional sea, surrounded by highly industrialized areas (Dzierzbicka-Głowacka et al. 2013).
The ground-based methods are, in principle, the easiest to use and the most
accurate monitoring systems. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) is the single most
comprehensive variable to remotely assess the aerosol burden in the atmosphere
using ground-based instruments. Knowledge of the real variations of this parameter
facilitates the solution of problems with solar radiation transmission through the
atmosphere as well as those concerned with climatology and remote sensing of the
seas and oceans. Therefore, the AOD is used in local studies on aerosols, their role
in atmospheric pollution and to make atmospheric corrections to satellite remotely
sensed data (Zielinski and Zielinski 2002).
Sea salt is the most characteristic type of marine aerosol, and it enters the
atmosphere due to the strong influence of wind on the sea surface. As a result, wind
waves are formed and the particles are precipitated from the wave crests. Emission
of sea salt to the atmosphere strongly depends on the force, speed and direction of
wind (Jacob et al. 1995). Marine aerosols also can be generated by rainfalls or
acoustic waves (Blanchard and Woodcock 1957; Blanchard 1963; Fitzgerald 1991).
8
A. Strzalkowska et al.