Estimating radiative forcing efficiency of dust aerosol based on direct satellite observations: case studies over the Sahara and Taklimakan Desert

Abstract. The direct radiative forcing efficiency of dust aerosol (DRFEdust) is an important indicator to measure the climate effect dust. DRFEdust determined by microphysical properties dust, which vary with source regions. However, there are only sparse in situ measurements them, such as distribution particle size and complex refractive index main Furthermore, recent studies have shown that non-spherical not negligible. often evaluated estimating given aerosols transfer model (RTM). considerable uncertainties exist due variable properties, including shape over Taklimakan Desert Sahara derived from satellite observations this paper. advantage proposed satellite-based method no need consider DRFEdust. For comparison, observed compared simulated RTM. differences these two regions their impacts on analyzed. observation -39.6±10.0 W m-2τ-1 March 2019 Tamanrasset -48.6±13.7 April Kashi Desert. According analyses optical (Kashi) scatter strongly. RTM-simulated results (−41.5 −47.4 −32.2 −44.3 Tamanrasset) good agreement estimated observations. previous studies, paper proven be reasonable reliable. also show can significantly influence satellite-derived represent DRFEdust, validate numerical more directly.