Carmen Córdoba-Jabonero

• PhD in Physics
• Senior scientific researcher at Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA)

Mineral dust has a key role in the Earth's radiative balance, and it has become significant over the Iberian Peninsula (IP), where Saharan dust outbreaks have seemed to increase in frequency and intensity. This study quantifies the dust direct radiative effect (DRE) in the short-wave range (SW) during an intense persistent springtime dust episode o...

Mineral dust has a key role in the Earth’s radiative balance, and it has become significant over the Iberian Peninsula (IP), where Saharan dust outbreaks seem to increase in frequency and intensity. This study quantifies the dust direct radiative effect (DRE) in the short-wave range (SW), during an intense persistent springtime dust episode over th...

Long-range transport of North African and Middle Eastern dust has been frequently observed in East Asia. However, understanding of their characteristics and effects in this region is insufficient. In this study, the transboundary transport of multi-source dust was captured by a polarized micro-pulse lidar from April 5 to 10, 2012, during a field ca...

Three volcanic plumes were detected during the Tajogaite volcano eruptive activity (Canary Islands, Spain, September–December 2021) over the Iberian Peninsula. The spatiotemporal evolution of these events is characterised by combining passive satellite remote sensing and ground-based lidar and sun-photometer systems. The inversion algorithm GRASP i...

The La Palma 2021 volcanic eruption was the first subaerial eruption in a 50-year period in the Canary Islands (Spain), emitting ~1.8 Tg of sulphur dioxide (SO2) into the troposphere over nearly 3 months (19 September-13 December 2021), exceeding the total anthropogenic SO2 emitted from the 27 European Union countries in 2019. We conducted a compre...

An intense and long-lasting Saharan dust outbreak crossed the Iberian Peninsula (IP) from the southwest (SW) to the northeast (NE) from 25 March until 7 April 2021. This work aims to assess the optical and mass contribution of both fine and coarse dust particles along their transport. Five Iberian lidar stations were monitoring the transport and ev...

The aim of this study was to analyze the potential of the GRASP code to retrieve optical and microphysical properties vertically-resolved using a synergy of polarized Micro-Pulse Lidar and Sun/sky photometer observations. The focus was on the long-range transport of Canadian aged-smoke plumes observed at El Arenosillo/Huelva (Spain) from 7 to 8 Sep...

An intense and long-lasting Saharan dust outbreak over the Iberian Peninsula (IP) in springtime 2021 is studied in this work with the aim of investigating the optical and mass contribution of both the fine and coarse dust particles along their transport by crossing the IP from the south-west to the north-east. Five Iberian lidar stations (El Arenos...

The volcanic eruption of Cumbre Vieja (La Palma Island, Spain), started on 19 September 2021 and was declared terminated on 25 December 2021. A complete set of aerosol measurements were deployed around the volcano within the first month of the eruptive activity. This paper describes the results of the observations made at Tazacorte on the west bank...

This paper is the companion paper of Córdoba-Jabonero et al. (2021). It deals with the estimation of the long-wave (LW) and net dust direct radiative effect (DRE) during the dust episode that occurred between 23 and 30 June 2019 and was paired with a mega-heatwave. The analysis is performed at two European sites where polarized micro-pulse lidars r...

The potential of the synergetic use of both polarized Micro-Pulse Lidar (P-MPL) and Sun/sky photometer observations by using the GRASP (Generalized Retrieval of Atmosphere and Surface Properties) code for retrieving dust properties has been analysed in this work. Both the columnar and height-resolved variables have been evaluated in comparison, res...

Simultaneous observations of a polarized micro-pulse lidar (P-MPL) system and two reference European Aerosol Research Lidar Network lidars running at the Leipzig site Germany, 51.4∘ N, 12.4∘ E; 125 m a.s.l.) were performed during a comprehensive 2-month field intercomparison campaign in summer 2019. An experimental assessment regarding both the ove...

This paper is the companion paper of Córdoba-Jabonero et al. (2021). It deals with the estimation of the longwave (LW) and net dust direct radiative effect (DRE) during the dust episode that occurred between 23 and 30 June, 2019, and coincided with a mega-heatwave. The analysis is performed at two European sites where polarized-Micro-Pulse Lidars r...

The short-wave (SW) direct radiative effect (DRE) during the summer 2019 heatwave produced partly by a moderate, long-lasting Saharan dust outbreak over Europe is analysed in this study. Two European sites (periods) are considered: Barcelona, Spain (23–30 June), and Leipzig, Germany (29 and 30 June), 1350 km apart from each other. Major data are ob...

Simultaneous observations of a polarized Micro-Pulse Lidar (P-MPL) system, currently operative within MPLNET (NASA Micro-Pulse Lidar Network), with two referenced EARLINET (European Aerosol Research Lidar Network) lidars, running at Leipzig site (Germany, 51.4º N 12.4º E, 125 m a.s.l.), were performed during a comprehensive two-month field campaign...

The shortwave (SW) direct radiative effect during the summer 2019 heatwave produced partly by a moderate, long-lasting Saharan dust outbreak over Europe is analysed in this study. Two European sites (periods) are considered: Barcelona, Spain, (23–30 June) and Leipzig, Germany (29–30 June). Major data are obtained from AERONET and MPLNET observation...

Numerical weather prediction systems depend on Hyperspectral Infrared Sounder (HIS) data, yet the impacts of dust contaminated HIS radiances on weather forecasts has not been quantified. To determine the impact of dust aerosol on HIS radiance assimilation, we use a modified radiance assimilation system employing a one-dimensional variational assimi...

Cirrus (Ci) clouds play an important role in the atmospheric radiative balance, and hence in Climate Change. In this work, a polarized Micro-Pulse Lidar (P-MPL), standard NASA/Micro Pulse NETwork (MPLNET) system, deployed at the INTA/El Arenosillo station in Huelva (SW Iberian Peninsula) is used for Ci detection and characterization for the first t...

Six months of stratospheric aerosol observations with the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) from August 2017 to January 2018 are presented. The decay phase of an unprecedented, record-breaking stratospheric perturbation caused by wildfire smoke is reported and discussed in terms of geometrical, optical, and microphysical aerosol pr...

During the 2017 record-breaking burning season in Canada/United States, intense wild fires raged during the first week of September in the Pacific northwestern region (British Columbia, Alberta, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and northern California) burning mostly temperate coniferous forests. The heavy loads of smoke particles emitted in the...

During the 2017 record-breaking burning season in Canada / United States, intense wild fires raged during the first week of September in the Pacific northwestern region (British Columbia, Alberta, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and northern California) burning mostly temperate coniferous forests. The heavy loads of smoke particles emitted in th...

Six months of stratospheric aerosol observations with the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) from August 2017 to January 2018 are presented. The decay phase of an unprecedented, record-breaking stratospheric perturbation caused by wild fire smoke is reported and discussed in terms of geometrical, optical, and microphysical aerosol p...

An intense dusty event unusually occurred in wintertime over the Iberian Peninsula was detected over two Spanish NASA/MPLNET sites: the temporary Torrejón Observational Tower for Environmental Monitoring (TOTEM, 40.5°N 3.5°W) and the Barcelona station (BCN, 41.4°N 2.1°E). The highest dust incidence was observed from 22 to 23 February 2017; this two...

The application of the POLIPHON (POlarization-LIdar PHOtometer Networking) method is presented for the first time in synergy with continuous 24/7 polarized Micro-Pulse Lidar (P-MPL) measurements to derive the vertical separation of two or three particle components in different aerosol mixtures, and the retrieval of their particular optical properti...

The application of the POLIPHON (POlarization-LIdar PHOtometer Networking) method in synergy with continuous 24/7 polarized Micro-Pulse Lidar (P-MPL) measurements to derive the vertical separation of two/three particle components in different aerosol mixtures, and the retrieval of their particular optical properties, is presented for the first time...

Cirrus (Ci) clouds are involved in Climate Change concerns since they affect the radiative balance of the atmosphere. Recently, a polarized Micro Pulse Lidar (P-MPL), standard system within NASA/MPLNET has been deployed at the INTA/Atmospheric Observatory ‘El Arenosillo’ (ARN), located in the SW Iberian Peninsula. Hence, the INTA/P-MPL system is us...

POLIPHON (POlarization-LIdar PHOtometer Networking) retrieval consists in the vertical separation of two/three particle components in aerosol mixtures, highlighting their relative contributions in terms of the optical properties and mass concentrations. This method is based on the specific particle linear depolarization ratio given for different ty...

The performance of six numerical methods usually used to determine the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) height from lidar measurements was investigated under different atmospheric conditions: results were compared with those obtained from radiosoundings to analyse their reliability for ABL-height retrievals. The selected methods were the gradient m...

A study of the vertical mass impact of Saharan dust intrusions is presented in this work. Simultaneous ground-based remote-sensing and airborne in-situ measurements performed during the AMISOC-TNF campaign over the Tenerife area (Canary Islands) in summertime from 01 July to 11 August 2013 were used for that purpose. A particular dusty (DD) case, a...

A seasonal distribution of the Lidar Ratio (LR, extinction-to-backscattering coefficient ratio) for pure Saharan dust particles has been achieved. Simultaneous MPLNET/Micro Pulse lidar measurements in synergy with AERONET sun-photometer data were collected in the Tenerife area, a Saharan dust-influenced region, from June 2007 to November 2009. Dust...

This work presents a first comparative study of the Lidar Ratio (LR) values obtained for dust particles in two singular dust-influenced regions: the Canary Islands (Spain, close to the African coast in the North Atlantic Ocean), frequently affected by Saharan dust intrusions, and the Kuwait area (Arabian Peninsula) as usually influenced by Arabian...

Cirrus clouds are product of weather processes, and then their occurrence and macrophysical/optical properties can vary significantly over different regions of the world. Lidars can provide height-resolved measurements with a relatively good both vertical and temporal resolutions, making them the most suitable instrumentation for high-cloud observa...

In the framework of AMISOC (Atmospheric Minor Species relevant to the Ozone Chemistry) project, a multi-instrumented campaign was performed in the Canary Islands area during summertime from 01 July to 11 August 2013. Both ground-based remote-sensing and airborne in-situ measurements were performed under dust loading conditions. Saharan dusty (DD) c...

Cirrus clouds with several important and climate-related applications are product of weather processes, and hence their occurrence and macrophysical/optical properties can vary significantly over different regions of the world. In this sense, a few case studies of cirrus clouds observed at both subtropical and polar latitudes are examined. Observat...

The extinction-to-backscattering coefficient ratio (Lidar Ratio, LR) is an aerosol-type dependent parameter associated to the chemical composition, particle shape and size distribution of aerosols. Hence, the LR estimation from lidar measurements is a crucial task in aerosol research. However, the elastic approach for LR data inversion must be care...

This work presents a comparison of aerosol properties measured by in situ and remote-sensing instrumentation over an urban background site in Madrid (Spain) in autumn 2010. Aerosol size distribution was characterized at ground level by the combined use of two instruments and also in elevated layers by airborne in situ instrumentation. Simultaneousl...

Several procedures are widely applied to estimate the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) top height by using aerosols as tracers from lidar measurements. These methods represent different mathematical approaches, relying on either the abrupt step of the aerosol concentration between the ABL and the free troposphere (FT) or the statistical analysis of...

Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs) play an important role in polar ozone depletion. In particular ice clouds, type PSC-II, with respect to the type PSC-I (nitric acid clouds) produce the most significant effects. Therefore PSC characterization, mainly focused on PSC-II discrimination is needed. The backscattering (R) and volume linear depolarization...

Four co‐located multiwavelength Raman lidar systems (Madrid, Granada, Barcelona and Evora) measured simultaneously to a reference system (Potenza) in order to assess their performances during the intercomparison campaign: SPALI10, (SPAin Lidar Intercomparison 2010) that took place in Madrid from 18 October to 5 November 2010. Multiwavelength Raman...

Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs) play an important role in polar ozone depletion. In particular ice clouds, type PSC-II, with respect to the type PSC-I (nitric acid clouds) produce the most significant effects. Therefore PSC characterization, mainly focused on PSC-II discrimination is needed. The backscattering (R) and volume linear depolarization...

Nabro volcano (13.37ºN, 41.70ºE) in Eritrea erupted on 13 June 2011 generating a layer of sulfate aerosols that persisted in the stratosphere for months. For the first time we report on ground-based lidar observations of the same event from every continent in the Northern Hemisphere, taking advantage of the synergy between global lidar networks suc...

The synergetic use of meteorological information, remote sensing both ground-based active (lidar) and passive (sun-photometry) techniques together with backtrajectory analysis and in-situ measurements is devoted to the characterization of dust intrusions. A case study of air masses advected from the Saharan region to the Canary Islands and the Iber...

To extend and reinforce the action of the European network EARLINET (supported by the EARLINET-ASOS European project), a network of Spanish and Portuguese aerosol lidars (SPALINET) was created. In the first three years of the project six out of the ten systems have been successfully intercompared, seven elastic algorithms and six Raman algorithms h...

To extend and reinforce the action of the European network EARLINET (supported by the EARLINET-ASOS European project), a network of Spanish and Portuguese aerosol lidars (SPALINET) was created. In the first three years of the project six out of the ten systems have been successfully intercompared, seven elastic algorithms and six Raman algorithms h...

Synergetic use of meteorological information, remote sensing both ground-based active (lidar) and passive (sun-photometry) techniques together with backtrajectory analysis and in situ measurements is carried out for the characterization of dust intrusions. A case study of air masses advected from Saharan region to the Canary Islands and the Iberian...

A group of eight Spanish lidars was formed in order to extend the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network-Advanced Sustainable Observation System (EARLINET-ASOS) project. This study presents intercomparisons at the hardware and software levels. Results of the system intercomparisons are based on range-square-corrected signals in cases where the lid...

The potential of a new improved version of micropulse lidar (MPL-4) on polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) detection is evaluated in the Arctic over Ny-Alesund (79ºN, 12ºE), Norway. The campaign took place from January to February 2007 in the frame of the International Polar Year (IPY) activities. Collocated Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) Koldewey Aero...

The ultraviolet (UV) radiative transfer problem in the martian atmosphere is dominated by multiple scattering of photons with the micron-sized aerosols that are suspended in the thin atmosphere. By implementing a multiple stream, vertical fine layering description of the radiative transfer equation that is able to cope with the strong vertical vari...

The biologically damaging solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation (quantified by the DNA-weighted dose) reaches the Martian surface in extremely high levels. Searching for potentially habitable UV-protected environments on Mars, we considered the polar ice caps that consist of a seasonally varying CO2 ice cover and a permanent H2O ice layer. It was found...

The biologically damaging solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation (quantified by the DNA-weighted dose) reaches the martian surface in extremely high levels. Searching for potentially habitable UV-protected environments on Mars, we considered the polar ice caps that consist of a seasonally varying CO2 ice cover and a permanent H2O ice layer. It was found...

We present a study of the solar UV radiation in Martian high latitude environments covered by ice, where the UV propagation through the polar cover depends on the ice radiative properties (layers of H 2O or CO 2 ice). But also we will investigate the changes in the subsurface UV levels induced by the seasonal variations of solar UV flux on the surf...

We carry out a comparative analysis of the morphological and seasonal features of two regions in the Martian Southern Polar Region: the Inca City (82S 65W) and the Pityusa Patera zone (66S 37E). These two sites are representative of a large number of areas which are subjected to dynamical, seasonal processes that deeply modify the local conditions...

During the spring, when ozone depletion at the polar regions is at its maximum and consequently the environmental UV exposure is potentially high, many terrestrial communities are covered in snow and heterogeneous snow-encrusted ice that form near the edges of snowpack. Using field measurements and a theoretical radiative transfer model, we calcula...

We carry out a comparative analysis of the morphological and seasonal features of two regions in the Martian Southern Polar Region: the Inca City (82S 65W) and the Pityusa Patera zone (66S 37E). These two sites are representative of a large number of areas which are subjected to dynamical, seasonal processes that deeply modify the local conditions...

Propagation of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation through the atmosphere of a planet is affected by the atmospheric composition. Therefore it indirectly influences the incidence of this harmful radiation on biological organisms. In Earth, the atmospheric parameters have been characterized by both direct measurements and indirect ground and space tech...

We study the morphology, composition, and evolution of different features in a region of about 200x200 km centered at 37E 66.4S on Mars. More than twenty wide- and narrow-angle Mars Global Surveyor MOC images taken in a period spanning 2,5 terrestrial years reveal that two different terrains coexist in this area. The southern part is dominated by t...

The Martian environment has an exceedingly strong component of damaging solar far-ultraviolet radiation, including most of the UV-C range (190–280 nm) because of the lack of an e7ective ozone shield. Two-stream radiative transfer modelling, including particulate aerosol content and surface albedo, indicates that the present abundance of SO2 does no...

Spectroradiometry and dosimeters made from a monolayer of Bacillus subtilis spores were used to investigate the penetration of ultraviolet radiation into some widespread terrestrial microbial microhabitats in the Antarctic and Artic. Layers of soil or dust, of ≥500 microns thickness, could reduce UV exposure such that no inactivation of spores coul...

The protection by iron against ultraviolet radiation in aquatic habitats is discussed. The aim is to check experimentally the role of inorganic matter dissolved in water and to characterize iron screening effects. The experimental results in the Tinto river's environment show attenuation of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation obtained in a present ter...

The continuous depletion of the ozone layer causes an increase in the ultraviolet-B (UV-B) reaching the Earth’s surface. In this paper the behaviour of the KCl:Eu2+ under solar UV irradiation has been investigated. Considering the thermoluminescence (TL) excitation spectra, the geometrical solar radiation parameters (solar zenith angle related to t...

A study of possible protection means in an aquatic medium that can screen the solar UV radiation, or part of it, is performed. Solar UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface and its later penetration through the aquatic medium are simulated by the two-stream radiative transfer approximation. Atmospheric input parameters are modified to model the e...

To extend and reinforce the action of the EARLINET-ASOS project, a network of Spanish and Portuguese aerosol lidars (SPALINET) was created. In the first three years of the project six out of the ten systems have been successfully intercompared, seven elastic algorithms have also been validated and six Raman algorithms are currently being validated....

During 1996, 1997, and 1998, several total ozone depletion events were detected over Madrid (40°N, 3°W) in late spring and in winter. A broadband interferential filter instrument (UV-300) centered at 298 nm was used to monitor the solar UV-B irradiance on the ground, registering UV-B levels as high as 17.1 μW/cm2 (May 2, 1997, solar zenith angle SZ...

The a-Al2O3:C system has been studied as an outdoor ultraviolet B solar dosemeter with no previous ionising radiation pre-treatment. The thermoluminescence signal fades when illuminated with solar ultraviolet A and visible light. An ultraviolet bandpass filter and an a-Al2O3:C sample were used to measure solar ultraviolet B dose. The hourly distrib...

The thermoluminescence excitation spectrum of single crystals of was measured and its convolution with solar spectral irradiances reaching the ground was estimated from a radiation-transfer model. The same crystals were used to register direct solar ultraviolet-C radiation reaching the ground at Madrid (N, W, 700 m ASL) on clear-sky days. By compar...