Absorbing Aerosol Index from Ozone Monitoring Suite-Nadir Onboard FengYun-3F: First Results and Validation

Aerosol particulate matter is a major atmospheric pollutant whose radiative effects also influence climate. The Absorbing Aerosol Index (AAI) derived from satellite observations indicates the presence and approximate intensity of light-absorbing aerosol particles. It is an effective proxy for monitoring atmospheric pollutants such as industrial emissions, dust, biomass-burning emissions, and volcanic ash. The Ozone Monitoring Suite-Nadir (OMS-N) onboard the FengYun-3F satellite was launched into orbit on 3 Aug. 2023. Following initial on-orbit testing, the instrument began to acquire reliable AAI observations. The Absorbing Aerosol Sensor (AAS) onboard the GF-5B satellite has been operating continuously since its launch in 2021. In this study, OMS-N AAI data are validated through comparison with AAS measurements over representative regions, including the Sahara Desert, the Taklimakan Desert, and wildfire-affected areas. Additionally, this study examines representative scenes observed using OMS-N AAI data during 2024 and 2025, covering desert dust, biomass-burning smoke, and polluted haze conditions. These include large-scale dust transport over northern China in March 2024, the Asian brown cloud over India in November 2024, the Saharan dust outbreak in August 2025, and wildfire smoke plumes over North America in September 2025.