Climatological aspects of seasonal variation of aerosol vertical distribution over central Indo-Gangetic belt (IGB) inferred by the space-borne lidar CALIOP

Climatological information on the vertical distribution of aerosol in the lower atmosphere is needed to assess the effects of aerosols on climate. Altitude profiles of the backscatter coefficient (at 532 nm), color ratio (CR) and particle depolarization ratio (PDR) derived from space-borne Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) onboard the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite were used to investigate the climatological aspects of seasonal variation of aerosol vertical distribution over central Indo-Gangetic belt (IGB). Strong convective activity coupled with capping inversion lead to vertical extension (4–5 km) of aerosol distribution during the pre-monsoon (PrM) season. Trapping of pollution at low altitudes (below 1.5 km) by subsidence have been found during the late post-monsoon (PoM) and winter seasons. Combined results of CR and PDR suggest presence of elevated mineral dust particles during the PrM season, whereas fine mode and spherical (biomass burning/industrial pollution) particles are dominant during the PoM and winter seasons. The observations indicate a seasonal dependency of the aerosol vertical distribution over central IGB.