Understanding the measurements and variability of aerosol optical properties in ne Spain

Resumen

Atmospheric aerosol particles play a key role in Earth’s climate by regulating the formation of clouds, and therefore modifying the Earth’s albedo and the hydrological cycle, as well as a consequence of their direct interaction with solar and terrestrial electromagnetic radiation, among many more processes. Overall, aerosol particles effect on the Earth’s radiative balance is to cool the atmosphere, however, there are still large uncertainties related, mainly associated to their spatial and temporal distribution, their concentration levels and the absorption properties of the most important absorbers, namely black carbon (BC), brown carbon (BrC) and potentially mineral dust particles. This PhD thesis focuses on providing an in-depth characterization of the optical properties of these particles in an area in the Western Mediterranean, the NE Spain. More, specifically in the improvement of the characterization of the absorption measurements, an analysis of the effect that the mixing of BC particles with other organic aerosols has on their absorption properties, and determining the optical properties of these particles, and especially of mineral dust, under different meteorological scenarios.