Investigation of variability of the background aerosol vertical structure above Tomsk in 2010-2011 carried out at IOA SB RAS lidar observatory

• download

   The paper analyzes experimental data on variations of vertical-temporal
   structure of aerosol, which were obtained using a lidar complex of the
   station of high-altitude atmospheric sensing (SHAS) IAO SB RAS for the
   period 2010-2011. A characteristic feature of this period was almost no
   volcanic activity with emissions to the stratosphere. This made it
   possible to study the behavior of the vertical structure of the background
   aerosol in the stratosphere on a monthly basis for certain nights during
   two years. The analysis of the results revealed differences in the
   vertical stratification of aerosol between 2010 and 2011. For 2010, the
   aerosol loading was maximal in January up to heights of 30 km, it
   diminished starting from February until almost no decrease in
   March-August, and showed a steady growth since September. In 2011, the
   aerosol loading of the stratosphere was more intense and longer-term. For
   instance, the height of the extension of the aerosol component reached 40
   km in January-March, and the aerosol was absent in the stratosphere within
   three months (May-July).