Size Distribution of Dry Matter of Particles in the Surface Atmospheric Layer in the Suburban Region of Tomsk within the Empirical Classification of Aerosol Weather Types

Based on the integrated monitoring of aerosol characteristics in the suburban region of Tomsk (2000–2017), a version of the classification of states of the surface atmospheric layer with respect to “aerosol weather” types is suggested. The principle of separate study of the processes of variation in the “dry matter” of aerosol particles and their condensation activity is utilized as a basis of the measurement method used. The corresponding aerosol weather types were identified in the coordinates (σ_d; Р), where σ_d is the scattering coefficient of the dry matter of aerosol (λ = 0.51 μm); P is the ratio of the mass concentration of the absorbing substance to the mass concentration of submicron particles, which reflects the “blackening” degree of the particles. With respect to the value of the scattering coefficient σ_d = 100 Mm⁻¹, the dataset is divided into two classes: “atmospheric hazes” (σ_d < 100 Mm⁻¹) and “haze” (σ_d > 100 Mm⁻¹). Then, the observation dataset is divided according to the value P = 0.05. In each calendar season, in accordance with the parameters specified, four types of aerosol weather are identified, which are conventionally designated as background (P < 0.05, σ_d < 100 Mm⁻¹), haze-S (P > 0.05, σ_d < 100 Mm⁻¹), smog (P > 0.05, σ_d > 100 Mm⁻¹), and smoke haze (P < 0.05, σ_d > 100 Mm⁻¹). It is shown that the main aerosol weather types are reliably different in the ratio of the contents of submicron and coarse particles in all seasons.