First observations of SO2 from the satellite Suomi NPP OMPS: Widespread air pollution events over China. Issue 18 (19th September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Kai; Dickerson, Russell R.; Carn, Simon A.; Ge, Cui; Wang, Jun
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 40:Issue 18(2013:Sep.)
• Page Start: 4957
• Page End: 4962
• Publication Date: 2013-09-19
• Subjects: Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/grl.50952
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="grl50952-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p id="grl50952-para-0001">[1] Severe smog episodes over China in January 2013 received worldwide attention. This air pollution was distinguished by heavy loadings of fine particulate matter and SO₂. To characterize these episodes, we employed the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite, Nadir Mapper (OMPS NM), an ultraviolet (UV) spectrometer flying on the Suomi National Polar‐orbiting Partnership (SNPP) spacecraft since October 2011. We developed an advanced algorithm to quantify SO₂ in the lower troposphere and achieved high‐quality retrievals from OMPS NM, which are characterized by high precision, ∼0.2 Dobson Units (DU; 1 DU = 2.69×10¹⁶molecules/cm²) for instantaneous field of view SO₂ data and low biases (within ±0.2 DU). Here we report SO₂retrievals and UV aerosol index data for these pollution events. The SO₂ columns and the areas covered by high pollutant concentrations are quantified; the results reveal for the first time the full extent (an area of ∼10⁶km² containing up to 60 kt of SO₂) of these episodes.</p> </abstract>