Initial Study of Column-Integrated Aerosol Optical Properties over Birkat al Mouz, Sultanate of Oman

Baiju Dayanandan; Nirmal Krishna; Ajay Parottil; Vinoj Velu; Ahmed Al Harrasi; Binisia Sanatan; Pawan Gupta; Tom Eck; Alexander Smirnov; Humaid AlBadi

doi:10.1007/s44408-025-00014-0

Initial Study of Column-Integrated Aerosol Optical Properties over Birkat al Mouz, Sultanate of Oman

Baiju Dayanandan
, Nirmal Krishna
, Ajay Parottil
, Vinoj Velu
, Ahmed Al Harrasi
, Binisia Sanatan
, Pawan Gupta
, Tom Eck
, Alexander Smirnov
, Humaid AlBadi

University of Nizwa
National Center for Atmospheric Research
Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Oman Civil Aviation Authority

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to provide the first analysis of aerosol optical properties, radiative forcing, and source identification over Birkat al Mouz, Oman, using Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) data from December 2022 to November 2024. Methods: We analyzed Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Angstrom Exponent (AE), Single Scattering Albedo (SSA), aerosol radiative forcing (RF), and performed Concentration-Weighted Trajectory (CWT) analysis to identify aerosol transport pathways and sources. Results: The highest aerosol loading (AOD = 0.49 ± 0.15) occurred in summer, with the lowest (0.17 ± 0.08) in winter. AE values (maximum 0.94 ± 0.20 in winter, minimum 0.42 ± 0.17 in summer) indicated coarse-mode aerosol dominance. Seasonal SSA values were highest in summer (0.95), confirming significant dust aerosol influence. Surface RF averaged − 43.81 W m⁻², atmospheric RF was 27.04 W m⁻², and aerosol-induced heating reached 0.74 K day⁻¹. CWT analysis revealed the Horn of Africa, and arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula as major aerosol sources. Conclusion: Seasonal aerosol variations in Birkat al Mouz are predominantly driven by dust aerosols transported from remote regions, highlighting their significant role in regional climate forcing.

Original language	English
Article number	13
Journal	Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Volume	25
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s44408-025-00014-0
State	Published - May 2025
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Aerosol optical depth (AOD)
Angstrom exponent (AE)
Coarse mode particle
Concentration-weighted trajectory (CWT)
Radiative forcing
Single scattering albedo (SSA)

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10.1007/s44408-025-00014-0

Cite this

@article{78c5e609b7d44cbca9b94214272e0a12,

title = "Initial Study of Column-Integrated Aerosol Optical Properties over Birkat al Mouz, Sultanate of Oman",

abstract = "Purpose: This study aims to provide the first analysis of aerosol optical properties, radiative forcing, and source identification over Birkat al Mouz, Oman, using Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) data from December 2022 to November 2024. Methods: We analyzed Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Angstrom Exponent (AE), Single Scattering Albedo (SSA), aerosol radiative forcing (RF), and performed Concentration-Weighted Trajectory (CWT) analysis to identify aerosol transport pathways and sources. Results: The highest aerosol loading (AOD = 0.49 ± 0.15) occurred in summer, with the lowest (0.17 ± 0.08) in winter. AE values (maximum 0.94 ± 0.20 in winter, minimum 0.42 ± 0.17 in summer) indicated coarse-mode aerosol dominance. Seasonal SSA values were highest in summer (0.95), confirming significant dust aerosol influence. Surface RF averaged − 43.81 W m−2, atmospheric RF was 27.04 W m−2, and aerosol-induced heating reached 0.74 K day−1. CWT analysis revealed the Horn of Africa, and arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula as major aerosol sources. Conclusion: Seasonal aerosol variations in Birkat al Mouz are predominantly driven by dust aerosols transported from remote regions, highlighting their significant role in regional climate forcing.",

keywords = "Aerosol optical depth (AOD), Angstrom exponent (AE), Coarse mode particle, Concentration-weighted trajectory (CWT), Radiative forcing, Single scattering albedo (SSA)",

author = "Baiju Dayanandan and Nirmal Krishna and Ajay Parottil and Vinoj Velu and \{Al Harrasi\}, Ahmed and Binisia Sanatan and Pawan Gupta and Tom Eck and Alexander Smirnov and Humaid AlBadi",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

year = "2025",

month = may,

doi = "10.1007/s44408-025-00014-0",

language = "English",

volume = "25",

journal = "Aerosol and Air Quality Research",

issn = "1680-8584",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Initial Study of Column-Integrated Aerosol Optical Properties over Birkat al Mouz, Sultanate of Oman

AU - Dayanandan, Baiju

AU - Krishna, Nirmal

AU - Parottil, Ajay

AU - Velu, Vinoj

AU - Al Harrasi, Ahmed

AU - Sanatan, Binisia

AU - Gupta, Pawan

AU - Eck, Tom

AU - Smirnov, Alexander

AU - AlBadi, Humaid

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.

PY - 2025/5

Y1 - 2025/5

N2 - Purpose: This study aims to provide the first analysis of aerosol optical properties, radiative forcing, and source identification over Birkat al Mouz, Oman, using Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) data from December 2022 to November 2024. Methods: We analyzed Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Angstrom Exponent (AE), Single Scattering Albedo (SSA), aerosol radiative forcing (RF), and performed Concentration-Weighted Trajectory (CWT) analysis to identify aerosol transport pathways and sources. Results: The highest aerosol loading (AOD = 0.49 ± 0.15) occurred in summer, with the lowest (0.17 ± 0.08) in winter. AE values (maximum 0.94 ± 0.20 in winter, minimum 0.42 ± 0.17 in summer) indicated coarse-mode aerosol dominance. Seasonal SSA values were highest in summer (0.95), confirming significant dust aerosol influence. Surface RF averaged − 43.81 W m−2, atmospheric RF was 27.04 W m−2, and aerosol-induced heating reached 0.74 K day−1. CWT analysis revealed the Horn of Africa, and arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula as major aerosol sources. Conclusion: Seasonal aerosol variations in Birkat al Mouz are predominantly driven by dust aerosols transported from remote regions, highlighting their significant role in regional climate forcing.

AB - Purpose: This study aims to provide the first analysis of aerosol optical properties, radiative forcing, and source identification over Birkat al Mouz, Oman, using Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) data from December 2022 to November 2024. Methods: We analyzed Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Angstrom Exponent (AE), Single Scattering Albedo (SSA), aerosol radiative forcing (RF), and performed Concentration-Weighted Trajectory (CWT) analysis to identify aerosol transport pathways and sources. Results: The highest aerosol loading (AOD = 0.49 ± 0.15) occurred in summer, with the lowest (0.17 ± 0.08) in winter. AE values (maximum 0.94 ± 0.20 in winter, minimum 0.42 ± 0.17 in summer) indicated coarse-mode aerosol dominance. Seasonal SSA values were highest in summer (0.95), confirming significant dust aerosol influence. Surface RF averaged − 43.81 W m−2, atmospheric RF was 27.04 W m−2, and aerosol-induced heating reached 0.74 K day−1. CWT analysis revealed the Horn of Africa, and arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula as major aerosol sources. Conclusion: Seasonal aerosol variations in Birkat al Mouz are predominantly driven by dust aerosols transported from remote regions, highlighting their significant role in regional climate forcing.

KW - Aerosol optical depth (AOD)

KW - Angstrom exponent (AE)

KW - Coarse mode particle

KW - Concentration-weighted trajectory (CWT)

KW - Radiative forcing

KW - Single scattering albedo (SSA)

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105003259331

U2 - 10.1007/s44408-025-00014-0

DO - 10.1007/s44408-025-00014-0

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105003259331

SN - 1680-8584

VL - 25

JO - Aerosol and Air Quality Research

JF - Aerosol and Air Quality Research

IS - 5

M1 - 13

ER -

Initial Study of Column-Integrated Aerosol Optical Properties over Birkat al Mouz, Sultanate of Oman

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Keywords

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