Understanding influences of convective transport and removal processes on aerosol vertical distribution

The vertical distribution of aerosols is an important component of aerosol radiative forcing. Here we investigate the effects of convection transport and precipitation on the vertical aerosol distribution using observations and reanalysis data. As expected, convective mass flux is positively correlated with precipitation everywhere. Both positive and negative correlations between convective mass flux, precipitation, and aerosol vertical dispersivity exist, depending on the region. In the tropics, more (less) convective mass flux is associated with more (less) precipitation and more (less) aerosol vertical dispersivity-including more (less) aerosol above 500 hPa. In contrast, a negative relationship exists between aerosol vertical dispersivity and both convective mass flux and precipitation over the Northern Hemisphere midlatitude ocean. Aerosol vertical dispersivity in this region is related to convective mass flux and precipitation over the emission sources. We conclude that convective transport is an important mechanism controlling the global vertical dispersivity of aerosol.