ABSTRACT:The Broadband Aerosol Optical Depth (BAOD) was calculated for Camagüey Actinometrical Station (EAC) using the methodology described by Gueymard in 1998. The main source of data used was the Solar Radiation Database of EAC for the 1981-2013 period. The BAOD calculation was performed for observations with total cloud coverage equal or less than one tenth of sky covered by clouds (Clear Sky, HCD) and for actinometrical observations with no clouds in the line of sight of the sun. To determine the BAOD Baseline the periods of El Chichón and Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eruptions were eliminated. The average value of BAOD for the entire period under aerosol background conditions is 0.115 (± 0.075) with a decreasing trend of −.20×10 -6 day -1 . BAOD values were compared with time coincident spectral AOD values obtained from a nearby sunphotometer. The highest correlation coefficient values were obtained for the wavelengths of 500 and 675 nm, with an R 2 = 0.45 for both cases.
Since March 19, 2015, a sunphotometer CIMEL CE-318T has been installed in the Huancayo Observatory, belonging to the Geophysical Institute of Peru. Aerosol Optical Depth at 440 nm (τ440) and the Ångström Exponent (α) derived from columnar aerosol sun-photometer measurement, based on Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) products, has been used for aerosols classification. The used AERONET dataset correspond to quality Level 2.0. A reliable identification of desert dust events has been possible based on above mentioned parameters. A total of 5 days and 10 hours have been identified as desert dust events based on AERONET dataset and the air mass backtrajectories employing the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model (HYSPLIT). Simulations carried out with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model has been used to corroborate the desert dust events. The most intense event was recorded in December 27, 2016, with a maximum AOD value of 0.32 at 12:03 GMT. It has been shown that the major contribution to AOD on days identified as desert dust events, corresponds to desert dust aerosols. This is the first report for Peru, of desert dust aerosols transport from the Peruvian coastal desert to the central Andes, specifically to the Mantaro Valley.
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