EVALUATION OF "INCREASING TREND" IN SEAWIFS-OBSERVED ANGSTROM EXPONENT DURING 1998-2006 OVER EAST-ASIAN WATERS

Monthly mean data of Angstrom exponent and Aerosol optical thickness (AOT) from Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) measurements over the East Asian waters were analyzed. Increasing trend of the satellite-derived Angstrom exponent was found over 1998-2006 while AOT mean was observed stable during the same period. Statistical test showed that annual increase in Angstrom exponent of about 0.01 is statistically significant over three study sub-areas out of six surrounding waters of Japan. Comparison with Aqua/MODIS-derived Angstrom exponent time series over June 2002 through June 2008 showed consistent correlation, with similar statistical significance. The trend of Angstrom exponent was interpreted as increase in fraction of small aerosol particles to give quantitative estimates on the variability of aerosols. The mean increase is evaluated to be about +0.35%/yr or more in terms of the contribution of small particles to the total AOT, or sub-micron fraction (SMF).