Identification of Aerosols’ Optical Properties in the Caribbean Area Using Ascending Hierarchical Clustering Analysis

Lovely Euphrasie-Clotilde (), Thomas Plocoste, France-Nor Brute, Cristian Velasco-Merino, Davis Mateos and Carlos Toledano
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Lovely Euphrasie-Clotilde: KaruSphère Laboratory, Department of Research in Geoscience, 97139 Abymes, Guadeloupe, France
Thomas Plocoste: KaruSphère Laboratory, Department of Research in Geoscience, 97139 Abymes, Guadeloupe, France
France-Nor Brute: LaRGE—Laboratoire de Recherche en Géosciences et Energies, Université des Antilles, Fouillole, 97157 Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, France
Cristian Velasco-Merino: Malwarebytes Inc., 3979 Freedom Circle 12th Floor, Santa Clara, CA 95054, USA
Davis Mateos: Grupo de Óptica Atmosférica, Departamento de Física Teórica Atómica y Óptica, Universidad de Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
Carlos Toledano: Grupo de Óptica Atmosférica, Departamento de Física Teórica Atómica y Óptica, Universidad de Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: Atmospheric aerosols significantly impact air quality, human health, and regional climate, with regions like the Caribbean Basin affected by various aerosol types, including marine, anthropogenic, and desert dust particles. This study utilizes Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) to analyze more than a decade of Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) data (2007–2023) from four Caribbean islands: Barbados, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. We examined sixteen physical parameters, including Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Angstrom Exponent (AE), and Volume Particle Size Distribution (VPSD), to identify distinct aerosol regimes and groups of daily measurements displaying similar aerosol optical properties. The originality of this work lies in the significant number of parameters considered to achieve a classification free of arbitrary orientation. The clustering method identified specific periods and aerosol characteristics, revealing seasonal patterns of background marine aerosols and Saharan dust events. By referring to existing research and using analysis tools such as VPSD and AE versus AOD representation, we aimed to define value ranges of physical parameters attributable to marine, dust, and mixed aerosols in the Caribbean region. The results underscore the diversity of aerosol sources and their seasonal variations across the Caribbean, providing critical insights for improving regional air quality management. This classification approach integrates comprehensive aerosol properties and is reinforced by the analysis of atmospheric circulation using the HYSPLIT model. These findings not only advance the characterization of aerosol regimes but also contribute to sustainable air quality management practices by providing actionable data to mitigate the adverse health and environmental impacts of aerosols.

Keywords: aerosols optical properties; VPSD; clustering method; atmospheric circulation; Caribbean area (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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