Article (Scientific journals)
Ground-based Multi-AXis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) observations of NO2 and H2CO at Kinshasa and comparisons with TROPOMI observations
Yombo Phaka, Rodriguez; Merlaud, Alexis; Pinardi, Gaia et al.
2023In Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 16, p. 5029--5050
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
 

Files


Full Text
AMT_publié.pdf
Publisher postprint (4.26 MB)
Download

All documents in ORBi are protected by a user license.

Send to



Details



Keywords :
MAX-DOAS, KINSHASA, NO2, H2CO, TROPOMI
Abstract :
[en] We present a database of MAX-DOAS (Multi- AXis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy) ground- based observations of NO2 and H2CO tropospheric verti- cal column densities (VCDtropo) performed for the first time in the city of Kinshasa. These measurements were con- ducted between November 2019 and July 2021 and pro- cessed using the standardized inversion tools developed in the ESA FRM4DOAS (Fiducial Reference Measurements for Ground-Based DOAS Air-Quality Observations) project. The retrieved geophysical quantities are used to validate col- umn observations from the TROPOspheric Monitoring In- strument (TROPOMI) over Kinshasa. In the validation, we experiment with three different comparison cases of increas- ing complexity. In the first case, a direct comparison between MAX-DOAS observations (hourly average of MAX-DOAS VCDtropo at overpass) and TROPOMI shows an underesti- mation of TROPOMI with a median bias of −38 % for NO2 and −39 % for H2CO based on monthly comparison. The second case takes into account the different vertical sensi- tivities of the two instruments and the a priori profile. We note significant changes in the median bias for both com- pounds: −12 % for NO2 and +11 % for H2CO. The third case builds on the second case by considering also the direc- tion of sight of the MAX-DOAS. For this third case, we find a median bias of +44 % for NO2 and a median bias of +4 % for H2CO. However this case is impacted by low sampling and is considered less reliable. The findings from this study underscore the significance of employing a realistic a priori profile in TROPOMI column extraction, particularly within heavily polluted urban zones like Kinshasa. The investiga- tion also highlights the necessity for prudence when inte- grating the MAX-DOAS line of sight due to the noise gener- ated during subsampling and the limited horizontal sensitiv- ity of MAX-DOAS observations. Importantly, the study fur- ther reveals the pronounced pollution levels of NO2, H2CO and aerosols in both the city of Kinshasa and its adjacent re- gions, underscoring the imperative for consistent monitoring and effective regulatory measures by local authorities.
Disciplines :
Physics
Author, co-author :
Yombo Phaka, Rodriguez ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Sphères
Merlaud, Alexis
Pinardi, Gaia 
Friedrich, Martina M.
Van Roozendael, Michel
Müller, Jean-François
Stavrakou, Jenny
De Smedt, Isabelle 
Hendrick, François
Dimitropoulou, Ermioni
Bopili Mbotia Lepiba, Richard
Phuku Phuati, Edmond
Djibi, Buenimio Lomami
Jacob, Lars
Fayt, Caroline
Mbungu Tsumbu, Jean-Perre
Mahieu, Emmanuel  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophysique, géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Groupe infra-rouge de physique atmosphérique et solaire (GIRPAS)
More authors (7 more) Less
Language :
English
Title :
Ground-based Multi-AXis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) observations of NO2 and H2CO at Kinshasa and comparisons with TROPOMI observations
Publication date :
30 October 2023
Journal title :
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
ISSN :
1867-1381
eISSN :
1867-8548
Publisher :
Copernicus Gesellschaften, Germany
Volume :
16
Pages :
5029--5050
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
BELSPO - Belgian Federal Science Policy Office [BE]
ARES - Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur [BE]
Funding text :
This research was partly funded by UR SPHERES of the Université de Liège and by the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) through the EQUATOR (Emis- sion QUantification of Atmospheric tracers in the Tropics using Ob- seRvations from satellites, 2021–2025) project.
Available on ORBi :
since 27 September 2023

Statistics


Number of views
24 (14 by ULiège)
Number of downloads
34 (4 by ULiège)

Scopus citations®
 
0
Scopus citations®
without self-citations
0

Bibliography


Similar publications



Contact ORBi