A synergistic combination of long-term remote-sensing and in-situ observations was used to investigate the impact of both natural marine and anthropogenic aerosols on clouds and cloud optical properties. Homogeneous single-layer non-precipitating water clouds were carefully selected from a data base spanning more than six years. This comprehensive study of 118 cloud cases with a total of more than 18,000 data points (time steps) can be considered as statistically representative. The results confirm the theory and previous findings of an increase of cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) and decrease of cloud droplet effective radius with increasing pollution. The cloud optical thickness (COT) and albedo were lower in cleaner air masses and higher in more polluted conditions.
The quantification of aerosols in terms of particle extinction coefficient and mass concentration could not be realised as originally proposed, due to problems with the newly purchased Raman lidar. Ceilometer data was used instead to quantify aerosols within limitations and under large uncertainties.
In-situ data from AMS (aerosol mass spectrometer), SMPS (scanning mobility particle sizer), APS (aerodynamic particle sizer), ACSM (aerosol chemical speciation monitor) and TEOM (tapered element oscillating microbalance) were used in an attempt to quantify the aerosol indirect effect on microphysical cloud properties, instead of the initially proposed Raman lidar data. In order to verify the representativeness of the aerosol concentration levels near the surface for the aerosol concentrations at cloud altitudes, these observations were combined with back-trajectories.
Improvement of the aerosol quantification using ground-based remote sensing at Mace Head is strongly recommended for a better understanding of the impact of aerosols on cloud properties in the future. Continued work on the SYSOC algorithm to reduce the uncertainties is recommended as well.

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Preißler, J.   "Dataset: Six years of surface remote sensing of stratiform warm clouds in marine and continental air over Mace Head, Ireland". Associated datasets and digitial information objects connected to this resource are available at: Secure Archive For Environmental Research Data (SAFER) managed by Environmental Protection Agency Ireland https://eparesearch.epa.ie/safer/resource?id=ec8cfad2-d3a0-11e8-9a31-005056ae0019 (Last Accessed: 2025-01-16)

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SAFER-Data Display URL	https://eparesearch.epa.ie/safer/iso19115/display?isoID=3162
Resource Keywords	microphysical and optical properties of stratiform liquid water clouds, impact of air mass transport on cloud properties, cloud characterization using a large data set
EPA/ERTDI/STRIVE Project Code	2012-CCRP-FS.13
EPA/ERTDI/STRIVE Project Theme	Climate Change
Resource Availability:	Public-Open
Limitations on the use of this Resource	NONE
Number of Attached Files (Publicly and Openly Available for Download):	1
Project Start Date	Tuesday 14th May 2013 (14-05-2013)
Earliest Recorded Date within any attached datasets or digital objects	Monday 23rd February 2009 (23-02-2009)
Most Recent Recorded Date within any attached datasets or digital objects	Sunday 22nd March 2015 (22-03-2015)
Published on SAFER	Friday 19th October 2018 (19-10-2018)
Date of Last Edit	Friday 19th October 2018 at 14:22:01 (19-10-2018)
Datasets or Files Updated On	Friday 19th October 2018 at 14:22:01 (19-10-2018)

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Description of Geographical Characteristics of This Project or Dataset
The Atmospheric Research Station Mace Head is located in Carna, Co. Galway, on the west coast of Ireland. The remote sensing division at Mace Head (53.33∘N, 9.90∘W) is located 21 m above sea level, about 300 m from the water line.

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