DRAGON J-ALPS: study of aerosol properties in Japanese Alps and valley region

A field campaign, AERONET DRAGON J-ALPS (joint research on aerosol process studies), is planned to is planned to study the influence of mountain topography on aerosol transport, the aerosol life cycle, and aerosol properties in a narrow valley. DRAGON/J-ALPS was planned to start in March 2020, with 12 AERONET Cimel sun/sky radiometers deployed in the central valley surrounded by the Japanese Alps. Some instruments were also placed in the mountains to study aerosols transported through the higher layers. In April 2020, however, observations were discontinued due to the COVID-V2; they resumed in the fall of 2020 and were extended until the spring of 2021. Some sites also operated until fall 2021.

The initial results of DRAGON/J-ALPS are presented in terms of aerosol characteristics from ground and satellite observations, with particular focus on regional background aerosols and long-range transboundary aerosols (biomass burning smoke, Asian dust, and volcanic smoke) across the Japanese Alps. Results of regional model simulations will also be presented.