Temporal and Spatial Variation of Aerosol Optical Depth Data from Sun Photometers in Turkey and its Surroundings

Abstract

Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) is the main parameter monitored by sun photometers located at the ground in the AERONET network for the monitoring of atmospheric aerosols. AOD is defined as the reduction of electromagnetic energy of a certain wavelength due to aerosols in the atmosphere. It provides significant information about the spatial and temporal variations of aerosols and aerosol properties in a region. In this study, variation of AOD at 10 AERONET stations in the Eastern Mediterranean region including Turkey were determined between 2008-2018. Results were analyzed in different temporal scales including annual, seasonal, and monthly. The results indicated that the AOD data differed by season in the study area. In general, larger AOD values were obtained at the rural station in Turkey compared to the urban station. Especially the rural station is mostly affected by dust transport from Africa and Asia in summer, spring, and autumn. It is known that this causes large AOD values at this station. Whereas larger AOD values were obtained in the spring and summer months, smaller values were observed in the autumn and winter months. It was determined that the monthly changes were similar at 10 AERONET stations. The highest number of data was observed in the summer months (July and August). The least data numbers were obtained in December and January in the winter season. Different from other stations, stations such as Athens (ATHENS-NOA), Cyprus Limassol (CUT-TEPAK), Crete Island (FORTH_CRETE), and Xanthi (Xanthi), which are known to be affected by dust transport, showed similar results with the rural station in Turkey. They had larger AOD values mainly in the spring and summer months. Statistical models for estimation of ground-level particulate matter concentrations in the region could be established with AOD obtained by this study. 

Keywords

• Aerosol optical depth
• Aerosol
• AOD
• AERONET
• Turkey
• Eastern Mediterranean

Türkiye ve Yakın Çevresinde Güneş Fotometreleri ile Elde Edilen Aerosol Optik Derinliği Verisinin Zamansal ve Mekansal Değişimi

Abstract

Yer seviyesinde konumlandırılmış AERONET ağına bağlı güneş fotometreleri ile belirlenen Aerosol Optik Derinliği (AOD), atmosferik aerosollerin izlenmesinde kullanılan temel parametredir. Kısaca, belli bir dalga boyundaki elektromanyetik enerjinin atmosferdeki aerosoller nedeniyle azalması olarak tanımlanan bu parametrenin bir bölgede mekansal ve zamansal değişimlerinin belirlenmesi o bölge atmosferinde aerosol varlığına ve özelliklerine ilişkin önemli bilgiler vermektedir. Bu çalışma kapsamında, ülkemizin de içinde yer aldığı Doğu Akdeniz bölgesinde 2008-2018 yılları arasındaki toplam 10 AERONET istasyonunda AOD değişimleri incelenmiştir. Değerlendirmeler farklı zaman dönemleri (yıllık, mevsimlik ve aylık) için ayrı ayrı yapılmıştır. Buna göre, çalışma alanı içinde AOD verilerinin mevsimlere göre farklılık gösterdiği ortaya konmuştur. İlkbahar ve yaz aylarında büyük AOD değerleri elde edilirken sonbahar ve kış aylarında daha küçük değerler görülmüştür. Türkiye’de yer alan kırsal istasyonda, kentsel istasyona göre daha büyük AOD değerleri elde edilmiştir. Özellikle yaz, ilkbahar ve sonbahar mevsimleri kırsal istasyonun Afrika ve Asya kaynaklı toz taşınımından en çok etkilendiği mevsimler olup, bu durumun istasyonda büyük AOD değerlerinin ölçülmesine neden olduğu bilinmektedir. Çalışma kapsamında değerlendirilen Türkiye ve yakın çevresinde yer alan 8 AERONET istasyonunda aylık değişimlerin birbirine benzediği, en çok veri sayısına yaz aylarında (Temmuz ve Ağustos) ulaşıldığı görülmüştür. En az veri sayıları ise kış mevsiminde Aralık ve Ocak aylarında elde edilmiştir. Diğer istasyonlardan farklı olarak toz taşınımından etkilendiği bilinen Atina (ATHENS-NOA), Kıbrıs Limasol (CUT-TEPAK), Girit adası (FORTH_CRETE) ve İskeçe (Xanthi) gibi Akdeniz Bölgesi istasyonlarında ilkbahar aylarında, Türkiye’de yer alan kırsal istasyonda olduğu gibi büyük AOD değerleri elde edilmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında elde edilen AOD verisi yardımıyla, bölgede yer seviyesindeki partikül madde konsantrasyonlarının tahminine yönelik istatistiksel tahmin modellerinin hazırlanması mümkün olabilecektir.

Keywords

• Aerosol optik derinliği
• Aerosol
• AOD
• AERONET
• Türkiye
• Doğu Akdeniz

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