Comparison of stratospheric aerosol measurements in the post-Pinatubo era from different satellite platforms

Abstract:

A significant part of our current understanding of the morphology and variability of stratospheric aerosol extinction and particle size is based on satellite observations in the optical spectral range. Until about the year 2000 these satellite remote sensing observations were predominantly carried out using the solar occultation technique (with, e.g., the SAGE and POAM instrument series), whereas during later years limb-scatter observations (e.g., by OSIRIS, SCIAMACHY, GOMOS, OMPS-LP, SAGE III) dominate. Limb-scatter observations are characterized by superior geographical coverage, but generally require more a priori assumptions to be made. This presentation will provide an overview of the agreement and differences between available satellite stratospheric aerosol observations in the post-Pinatubo period, with a special focus on the first decade of the 21st century, when a relatively large number of independent satellite data sets was available. In terms of stratospheric aerosol extinction, the different data sets is generally agree within 30 % from the lower stratosphere up to 30 km. Particular focus will be given to the series of weak to moderate volcanic eruptions between 2005 and 2012. We will also discuss the main open issues limiting the accuracy of (a) stratospheric aerosol extinction profile retrievals from limb scatter observations, and (b) the retrieval of stratospheric aerosol particle size information from multi-spectral aerosol extinction observations.