Retrieval of aerosol properties using relative radiance measurements from an all-sky camera

Abstract. This paper explores the potential of all-sky cameras to retrieve aerosol properties with GRASP code (Generalized Retrieval Atmosphere and Surface Properties). To this end, normalized sky radiances (NSRs) extracted from an camera at three effective wavelengths (467, 536 605 nm) are used in study. NSR observations a set relative (uncalibrated) arbitrary units. have been simulated for different loads types forward radiative transfer module GRASP, indicating that contain information about type, as well optical depth (AOD), least low moderate loads. An additional sensitivity study synthetic data has carried out quantify theoretical accuracy precision (AOD, size distribution parameters, etc.) retrieved by using input. As result, AOD is within ±0.02 values lower than or equal 0.4, while goes 0.01 0.05 when 467 nm varies 0.1 0.5. measurements recorded Valladolid (Spain) more 2 years inverted GRASP. The compared independent provided co-located AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) measurements. AODs both sets correlate determination coefficient (r2) 0.87. Finally, novel multi-pixel approach applied daily together constraining temporal variation certain properties. linkage (multi-pixel approach) provides promising results, reducing highly some standard (one one single-pixel) approach. work implies advance use retrieval