First results from AERONET mini-dragon photometer network set-up at Singapore

We report our first photometric measurements of aerosol optical depth from AERONET´s mini-DRAGON sites at Singapore performed over the months of August and September 2012. Multi-spectral measurements of aerosol optical depth provide essential spectral information to obtain and/or retrieve the so-called Angstrom exponent number which is an essential parameter for inferring aerosol particle size regime. Based on the range of variability of Angstrom exponent number and aerosol optical depth, various aerosol types present in the local environment, can be identified. Special emphasis is placed on detecting the possible presence of external sources of aerosols such as from trans-boundary smoke originating from regional biomass burning episodes which is prevalent during this time of the year.