Aerosol optical properties over the South Atlantic and Southern Ocean during the 140th cruise of the M/VÂ S.A. Agulhas

The research analysed the aerosol optical properties of the South Atlantic and Southern Ocean regions during the South African National Antarctic Expedition 2007/2008 (SANAE 47) take-over cruise on board the M/V S.A. Agulhas. Very low aerosol optical thickness values were obtained for the Antarctic Coastal region with a mean AOT 500 nm of 0.03 and a mean Ångström exponent of 1.77. The South Atlantic region showed a mean AOT 500 nm of 0.06 and a mean Ångström exponent of 0.69. AOT values for the South African coastal region were similar to those in the South Atlantic and had a mean AOT 500 nm of 0.07 and a mean Ångström exponent of 0.76. A discrepancy exists between the MODIS TERRA and AQUA aerosol product and the acquired dataset using the Microtops II Sunphotometer.