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

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.