The modeling system RAMS-CMAQ is applied in this paper to East Asia to simulate the temporo-spatial concentration distributions of atmospheric aerosols. For evaluating its performances, modeled concentrations of aerosols such as sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, black carbon and organic carbon were compared with observations obtained in East Asia on board of two aircrafts in the springtime of 2001. The comparison showed generally good agreement, and, in particular, that the modeling system captured most of the important observed features, including vertical gradients of the aerosols of the Asian outflow over the western Pacific. The evaluation results provide us with much confidence for further use of the modeling system to investigate the transport and transformation processes of atmospheric aerosols over East Asia and to assess their impacts on the Earth＇s radiation budget.
Global aerosol optical thickness (AOT) data over land obtained from the Moderate Resolu-tion Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) are evaluated through comparisons with AOT data retrieved by Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET). In general, MODIS overestimates AOT except at a few AERONET sites in Africa and eastern Asia. MODIS/AOTs are, on average, larger than AERONET/AOTs by 0.041 and 0.090 at 470 nm and 660 nm, respectively. The AOT bias at 660 nm is significantly correlated to the surface reflectance at 2130 nm. Both facts suggest that the underestimation of the surface reflectance is the principal reason for this bias at 660 nm. To use the MODIS/AOT at 470 nm is strongly recommended because it is much more reliable than the AOT at 660 nm.
Recent progress in atmospheric observation techniques, observational systems and their application in China are reviewed. According to different observational platforms, the review is presented in three sections, i.e., satellite remote sensing （SRS）, ground-based observation technologies and applications, and aircraft/balloon measurements. The section ＂satellite remote sensing＂ presents advances in SRS techniques, SRS of clouds and aerosols, and SRS of trace gases and temperature/moisture profiles. The section ＂groundbased observation technologies and applications＂ focuses on research such as lidar systems and applications, sun/sky radiometer and broadband radiation observations, weather radar and wind profilers, GPS measurements, and some new concept systems. The section ＂aircraft/balloon measurements＂ presents some newly developed aircraft- and balloon-based sounding techniques.
