Ellsworth J. Welton

About

Ellsworth J. Welton is a leading figure in atmospheric aerosol research, best known for his foundational contributions to ground-based remote sensing networks. His work centers on the development and advancement of the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) and the NASA Micro Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET), which together provide critical, long-term observations of aerosol optical properties worldwide. Welton’s most impactful contribution is his leadership in the AERONET Version 3 database, detailed in a highly cited 2019 paper (1,372 citations), which introduced automated near-real-time quality control and improved cloud screening for aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements. He also pioneered nocturnal AOD measurements using lunar photometry, enabling 24/7 monitoring. His research has illuminated key phenomena, such as rapid aerosol enhancements near polluted cumulus clouds and the contamination of satellite retrievals by thin cirrus. As a principal investigator for MPLNET, he has advanced lidar-based profiling of aerosol vertical structure. With over 2,000 total citations, Welton’s work is indispensable for climate modeling, air quality studies, and satellite validation, making him a cornerstone of modern aerosol science.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Advancements in the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) Version 3 database – automated near-real-time quality control algorithm with improved cloud screening for Sun photometer aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements

   1,372 citations · 2019
2. 2
   Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer measurements of aerosol absorption from space: Comparison to SAFARI 2000 ground‐based observations

   124 citations · 2005
3. 3
   Nocturnal Aerosol Optical Depth Measurements with a Small-Aperture Automated Photometer Using the Moon as a Light Source

   81 citations · 2011
4. 4
   Observations of rapid aerosol optical depth enhancements in the vicinity of polluted cumulus clouds

   78 citations · 2014
5. 5
   Advancements in the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) Version 3 Database – Automated Near Real-Time Quality Control Algorithm with Improved Cloud Screening for Sun Photometer Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) Measurements

   77 citations · 2018
6. 6
   Susceptibility of aerosol optical thickness retrievals to thin cirrus contamination during the BASE-ASIA campaign

   76 citations · 2011
7. 7
   Optical properties of Saharan dust during ACE 2

   73 citations · 1998
8. 8
   Status of the NASA Micro Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET): overview of the network and future plans, new version 3 data products, and the polarized MPL

   62 citations · 2018
9. 9
   Inferring the composition and concentration of aerosols by combining AERONET and MPLNET data: Comparison with other measurements and utilization to evaluate GCM output

   55 citations · 2009
10. 10
    Aerosol particle vertical distributions and optical properties over Singapore

    48 citations · 2013

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links