Aerosol single-scattering albedo (SSA) is the most critical factor for the accurately calculating of aerosol radiative effects, however, the observation of vertical profiles of SSA is difficult to realize. Current assessments of aerosol radiative effects remain uncertain because of the lack of long-term, high-resolution vertical profiles of SSA observations. High-resolution SSA vertical profiles were observed in a semi-arid region of Northwest China during winter using a tethered balloon. The observed SSA vertical profiles were used to calculate the aerosol direct radiative forcing and radiative heating rates. Significant differences in the calculated radiative forcing were found (e.g., a 48.3% relative difference for the heating effect in the atmosphere at 14:00) between the observed SSA profiles and the constant assumption with SSA = 0.90. Diurnal variations in the vertical distribution of SSA decisively influenced direct radiative forcing of aerosols. Furthermore, high-resolution vertical profiles of absorbing aerosols and meteorological parameters provide robust observational evidence of the heating effect of an elevated absorbing aerosol layer. This study provides a more accurate calculation of aerosol radiative forcing using observed aerosol SSA profiles. The scarcity of single-scattering albedo (SSA) observations is the most critical factor limiting the accurate calculations of aerosol radiative effects. A tethered balloon platform was used to obtain long-term, high-resolution observations of the SSA and estimate aerosols' radiative effects. The relative differences in the heating rate and direct radiative forcing calculations using the observed SSA and a constant assumed SSA (i.e., ignoring the vertical distribution of absorbing aerosols) were quantified. The effects of diurnal variations in the vertical distribution of SSA on aerosol direct radiative forcing are summarized. This study has important scientific implications for assessing the radiative effects of aerosols in semi-arid regions, that are highly sensitive to climate change. Tethered balloon observations acquired high-resolution vertical aerosol single-scattering albedo (SSA) profiles The assumed SSA profiles caused a 48.3% relative error in radiative forcing in the atmosphere compared to the observed profiles at 14:00 A robust observational evidence of atmospheric heating by absorbing aerosols above the boundary layer was provided

Black carbon (BC) can change the energy budget of the earth system by strongly absorbing solar radiation: both suspended in the atmosphere, incorporated into cloud droplets, or deposited onto high-albedo surfaces. BC's direct radiative forcing is highly dependent on its vertical distribution. However, due to large variabilities and the small number of vertical profile measurements, there is still large uncertainty in this forcing value. Moreover, the vertical profile of BC and its relative elevation to clouds determine BC's lifetime in the atmosphere and its transport and removal processes. Experimental measurements of BC vertical profiles over the Tibetan Plateau are very important: not only for studies of BC effects on regional climate, but also for studies of BC transport from surrounding regions with strong anthropogenic emissions. In November-December 2017, a series of tethered balloon flights was launched at the Southeast Tibet Observation and Research Station for the Alpine Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (SETORS, located at 29 degrees 46'N, 94 degrees 44'E, 3300 m a.s.l.). A cylindrical balloon with a diameter of 7.9 m and maximum volume of 1100 m(3) was used. A 7-channel Aethalometer (Model AVIO-33, Magee Scientific (R), USA) was installed in the gondola attached to the balloon, together with several other instruments including a GPS for altitude, and sensors for temperature and relative humidity. The airborne Aethalometer measured BC mass concentration (ng/m(3)) on a on a 1-second timebase at 7 wavelengths ranging from 370 nm to 950 nm. Meanwhile, another Aethalometer (Model AE-33, Magee Scientific (R), USA) was used to monitor BC mass concentration near the surface, at a height of about 10 m above the ground. From the tethered balloon flights, we derived three profiles designated as F1, F3-ASC, and F3-DES. The maximum height for the F1 flight was 500 m a.g.l., namely 3800 m a.s.l.; while the maximum height for the F3 flight was 1950 m a.g.l., namely 5250 m a.s.l. Based on the potential temperature and relative humidity data, the profiles were divided into three layers: the stable boundary layer (SBL), the residual layer (RL), and the free troposphere (FT). The vertical distribution of BC shows a prominent peak within the SBL. The mean BC concentration in SBL (1000 +/- 750 ng/m(3)) was one order of magnitude higher than in RL and FT, which were 140 +/- 50 ng/m(3) and 120 +/- 50 ng/m(3), respectively. The BC concentration measured in the present study in FT over the southeastern Tibetan Plateau is comparable to measurements in Arctic regions, but lower than values in South Asia. Analysis of the wavelength dependence of the data yields an estimate of the biomass burning contribution. This showed a maximum value in SBL of 44%+/- 37%, and was 16%+/- 6% in RL and 14%+/- 5% in FT. Analysis of 24-h isentropic back trajectories showed that BC in SBL and RL was dominated by local sources, while in the FT, BC is mainly influenced by mid- to long-distant transport by the westerlies. In addition, analysis of the variations of BC concentration and biomass burning contribution on a high-resolution time scale showed that BC concentrations and the nature of their sources are largely influenced by air mass origins and transport. To our knowledge, this is the first ever in situ measurement of BC concentration over the Tibetan Plateau in the atmospheric boundary layer and free troposphere up to 5000 m a.s.l.

The ground and vertical profiles of particulate matter (PM) were mapped as part of a pilot study using a Tethered balloon within the lower troposphere (1000 m) during the foggy episodes in the winter season of 2015-16 in New Delhi, India. Measurements of black carbon (BC) aerosol and PM <2.5 and 10 mu m (PM2.5 &PM-10 respectively) concentrations and their associated particulate optical properties along with meteorological parameters were made. The mean concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, BC370 (nm), and BC880 nm were observed to be 146.8 +/- 42.1, 245.4 +/- 65.4, 30.3 +/- 122, and 24.1 +/- 103 mu g m(-3), respectively. The mean value of PM2.5 was similar to 12 times higher than the annual US-EPA air quality standard. The fraction of BC in PM2.5 that contributed to absorption in the shorter visible wavelengths (BC370 nm) was-21%. Compared to clear days, the ground level mass concentrations of PM2.5 and BC370 nm particles were substantially increased (59% and 24%, respectively) during the foggy episode. The aerosol light extinction coefficient (sigma(ext)) value was much higher (mean: 610 Mm(-1)) during the lower visibility (foggy) condition. Higher concentrations of PM2.5 (89 mu g m(-3)) and longer visible wavelength absorbing BC880 am (25.7 mu g m(-3)) particles were observed up to 200 m. The BC880 nm and PM2.5 aerosol concentrations near boundary layer (1 km) were significantly higher (similar to 1.9 and 12 mu g m(-3)), respectively. The BC (i.e BCtot) aerosol direct radiative forcing (DRF) values were estimated at the top of the atmosphere (TOA), surface (SFC), and atmosphere (ATM) and its resultant forcing were- 75.5 Wm(-2) at SFC indicating the cooling effect at the surface. A positive value (20.9 Wm(-2)) of BC aerosol DRF at TOA indicated the warming effect at the top of the atmosphere over the study region. The net DRF value due to BC aerosol was positive (96.4 Wm(-2)) indicating a net warming effect in the atmosphere. The contribution of fossil and biomass fuels to the observed BC aerosol DRF values was -78% and-22%, respectively. The higher mean atmospheric heating rate (2.71 K clay(-1)) by BC aerosol in the winter season would probably strengthen the temperature inversion leading to poor dispersion and affecting the formation of clouds. Serious detrimental impacts on regional climate due to the high concentrations of BC and PM (especially PM2.5) aerosol are likely based on this study and suggest the need for immediate, stringent measures to improve the regional air quality in the northern India. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Tethered balloon-based field campaign was launched for the vertical observation of air pollutants within the lower troposphere of 1000 m for the first time over a Chinese megacity, Shanghai in December of 2013. A custom-designed instrumentation platform for tethered balloon observation and ground-based observation synchronously operated for the measurement of same meteorological parameters and typical air pollutants. One episodic event (December 13) was selected with specific focus on particulate black carbon, a short-lived climate forcer with strong warming effect. Diurnal variation of the mixing layer height showed very shallow boundary of less than 300 m in early morning and night due to nocturnal inversion while extended boundary of more than 1000 m from noon to afternoon. Wind profiles showed relatively stagnant synoptic condition in the morning, frequent shifts between upward and downward motion at noon and in the afternoon, and dominant downward motion with sea breeze in the evening. Characteristics of black carbon vertical profiles during four different periods of a day were analyzed and compared. In the morning, surface BC concentration averaged as high as 20 mu g/m(3) due to intense traffic emissions from the morning rush hours and unfavorable meteorological conditions. A strong gradient of BC concentrations with altitude was observed from the ground to the top of boundary layer at around 250-370 m. BC gradients turned much smaller above the boundary layer. BC profiles measured during noon and afternoon were the least dependent on heights. The largely extended boundary layer with strong vertical convection was responsible for a well mixing of BC particles in the whole measured column. BC profiles were similar between the early-evening and late-evening phases. The lower troposphere was divided into two stratified air layers with contrasted BC vertical distributions. Profiles at night showed strong gradients from the relatively high surface concentrations to low concentrations near the top of the boundary layer around 200 m. Above the boundary layer, BC increased with altitudes and reached a maximum at the top of 1000 m. Prevailing sea breeze within the boundary layer was mainly responsible for the quick cleanup of BC in the lower altitudes. In contrast, continental outflow via regional transport was the major cause of the enhanced BC aloft. This study provides a first insight of the black carbon vertical profiles over Eastern China, which will have significant implications for narrowing the gaps between the source emissions and observations as well as improving estimations of BC radiative forcing and regional climate. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.