Characterization of Saharan dust, marine aerosols and mixtures of biomass-burning aerosols and dust by means of multi-wavelength depolarization and Raman lidar measurements during SAMUM 2

The particle linear depolarization ratio δ_p of Saharan dust, marine aerosols and mixtures of biomass-burning aerosols from southern West Africa and Saharan dust was determined at three wavelengths with three lidar systems during the SAharan Mineral dUst experiMent 2 at the airport of Praia, Cape Verde, between 22 January and 9 February 2008. The lidar ratio S_p of these major types of tropospheric aerosols was analysed at two wavelengths. For Saharan dust, we find wavelength dependent mean particle linear depolarization ratios δ_p of 0.24-0.27 at 355 nm, 0.29-0.31 at 532 nm and 0.36-0.40 at 710 nm, and wavelength independent mean lidar ratios S_p of 48-70 sr. Mixtures of biomass-burning aerosols and dust show wavelength independent values of δ_p and S_p between 0.12-0.23 and 57-98 sr, respectively. The mean values of marine aerosols range independent of wavelength for δ_p from 0.01 to 0.03 and for S_p from 14 to 24 sr.