A decadal optical investigation (2009-2018) of anthropogenic aerosol of Beijing, China

A decadal (2009-2018) seasonal cycles of aerosol optical depth measurements obtained by the AERONET network in Beijing show the variation in annual mean, in the interval (0.55-0.87), which represents a permanent high value above the air quality threshold defined by the WHO. The determined bi-log normal distributions are, in average, near to 0.19 mu m and 3.2 mu m respectively for fine and coarse modes with the great contribution of anthropogenic aerosol to urban areas in front of the influence of continental natural advections. Aerosol radiative forcing is relatively constant and registers as mean - 78.1 W/m(2) at surface and - 32.55 W/m(2) at the top of the atmosphere with a warming tendency of a corresponding forcing of atmospheric column around + 44.63 W/m(2). Monitoring of atmospheric aerosols over the North China Plain region allows to estimating the impact of the air quality in Beijing on the health of the concerned population.