A. Joseph Adesina

About

A. Joseph Adesina is a leading atmospheric scientist whose research focuses on aerosol climatology, aerosol type discrimination, and the radiative impacts of aerosols over southern Africa. His major contributions include developing robust methods to classify aerosol types—such as biomass burning, urban-industrial, and dust—using ground-based AERONET and satellite data (MODIS, MISR, OMI). His work has provided critical insights into how meteorology and long-range transport influence aerosol optical properties, as demonstrated in his highly cited 2013 study on the Ångström exponent and curvature effect over a subtropical station in South Africa. With over 380 citations, his most influential paper (2015, 111 citations) established a comprehensive aerosol climatology for Durban, while his 2014 study on Skukuza (51 citations) pioneered the seasonal discrimination of aerosol types at a rural subtropical site. Adesina also conducted the first direct radiative forcing assessment of urban aerosols over Pretoria (2014, 47 citations), revealing significant environmental impacts. His long-term satellite intercomparison (2016, 50 citations) validated aerosol products across contrasting South African sites, cementing his reputation as a key figure in regional aerosol research and climate science.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Aerosol climatology and discrimination of aerosol types retrieved from MODIS, MISR and OMI over Durban (29.88°S, 31.02°E), South Africa

   111 citations · 2015
2. 2
   Inferring wavelength dependence of AOD and Ångström exponent over a sub-tropical station in South Africa using AERONET data: Influence of meteorology, long-range transport and curvature effect

   91 citations · 2013
3. 3
   Identification and Classification of Different Aerosol Types over a Subtropical Rural Site in Mpumalanga, South Africa: Seasonal Variations as Retrieved from the AERONET Sunphotometer

   51 citations · 2014
4. 4
   Intercomparison and assessment of long-term (2004–2013) multiple satellite aerosol products over two contrasting sites in South Africa

   50 citations · 2016
5. 5
   Direct radiative forcing of urban aerosols over Pretoria (25.75°S, 28.28°E) using AERONET Sunphotometer data: First scientific results and environmental impact

   47 citations · 2014
6. 6
   Characteristics of columnar aerosol optical and microphysical properties retrieved from the sun photometer and its impact on radiative forcing over Skukuza (South Africa) during 1999–2010

   33 citations · 2017

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links