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Carlos Toledano

Publications and source records attributed to Carlos Toledano.

Chapter 7: Sun Photometers

Sun photometry is an extended technique for monitoring the atmospheric composition and support satellite product validation. By measuring the direct solar irradiance, the amount and characteristics of the atmospheric aerosol particles, precipitable water vapor column, and ozone columns can be derived. Global operational networks such as the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET), Global Atmosphere Watch-Precision Filter Radiometer Network (GAW-PFR), Maritime Aerosol Network (MAN), or the Brewer spectrophotometer networks constitute sustained efforts for long-term monitoring of the atmosphere, with invaluable data production using cost-effective and relatively simple instrumentation. The data quality relies on the standardization of these networks, with special emphasis on the calibration as the key element in Sun photometry.

Sun photometry↗

Volcanic Eruption of Cumbre Vieja, La Palma, Spain: A First Insight to the Particulate Matter Injected in the Troposphere

The volcanic eruption of Cumbre Vieja (La Palma Island, Spain), started on 19 September, 2021, and was declared terminated on 25 December, 2021. A complete set of aerosol measurements were deployed around the volcano within the first month of the eruptive activity. This paper describes the results of the observations made at Tazacorte on the west bank of the island where a polarized micro pulse lidar was deployed. The two and a half months analyzed (16 October – 31 December) reveal that the peak height of the lowermost and strongest volcanic plume did not exceed 3 km (mean of 1.43±0.45 km over the whole period) and was highly variable. It steadily increased until week 11 after the eruption start (and 3 weeks before its end) and started decreasing afterwards. The ash mass concentration has been assessed with a method based on the polarization capability of the instrument. Considering the limitation of current remote sensing techniques to detect large to giant particles, the ash mass concentration on one of the days with the highest ash load is estimated to have peaked in the range 800-3200 μg m(exp -3) in the lowermost layer below 2.5 km.

Cumbre Vieja↗

Remote Sensing of Arctic Atmospheric Aerosols

In this chapter remote sensing techniques as applied to studies of Arctic aerosol are surveyed. They include the analysis of ground and shipborne observations of atmospheric aerosol using sunphotometers and also airborne/satellite observations using optical instrumentation (lidars, imagers, radiometers).

Aerosol↗