Aerosol lidar ratio characteristics measured by a multi-wavelength Raman lidar system at Anmyeon Island, Korea

Tropospheric aerosols were investigated with a multi-wavelength Raman lidar system during two measurement periods: March 15th–April 16th, 2004 and May 23rd–June 9th, 2005 at the Korea Global Atmospheric Watch Observatory (KGAWO, 36.32°N, 126.19°E), Anmyeon Island, Korea. The extinction coefficient, backscattering coefficient and lidar ratio (Sa) were measured at 355 and 532 nm with the Raman method. Wavelength-dependent lidar ratio data can be used to determine aerosol type. Average values of Sa were 46.8 ± 6.5 and 71.1 ± 8.2 sr at 355 nm and 49.0 ± 12.2 and 78.6 ± 9.6 sr at 532 nm during the two observation periods in 2004 and 2005, respectively. HYSPLIT backward trajectory analysis showed different pathways of air mass between the two observation periods. Air mass had moved to the measurement site from the Chinese continent by a northwesterly wind in 2004, whereas it moved rather slowly in an easterly direction over the Korean Peninsula in 2005. Raman lidar results obtained in this study can provide useful information on aerosol climatology and aerosol transport characteristics in Northeast Asia.