The statistical characteristics of aerosol–cloud interactions over East Asia were investigated using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer satellite data. The long-term relationship between various aerosol and cloud parameters was estimated using correlation analysis, principle component analysis, and Aerosol Indirect Effect (AIE) estimation. In correlation analysis, Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) was positively Correlated with Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) and Cloud Fraction (CF), but negatively correlated with Cloud Top Temperature (CTT) and Cloud Top Pressure (CTP). Fine Mode Fraction (FMF) and CCN were positively correlated over the ocean because of sea spray. In principle component analysis, AOD and FMF were influenced by water vapor. In particular, AOD was positively influenced by CF, and negatively by CTT and CTP over the ocean. In AIE estimation, the AIE value in each cloud layer and type was mostly negative (Twomey effect) but sometimes positive (anti-Twomey effect). This is related to regional, environmental, seasonal, and meteorological effects. Rigorous and extensive studies on aerosol–cloud interactions over East Asia should be conducted via micro- and macro-scale investigations, to determine chemical characteristics using various meteorological instruments.

The shortwave aerosol direct radiative forcing (SWARF) was analyzed using the Clouds and Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) data in the East Asian region from 2001 to 2010. In the Yellow Sea and the Korean Peninsula, located in the leeward side of China, significantly negative high SWARF at the top of atmosphere (TOA) occurs due to the long-range transport of anthropogenic (e.g. sulphate) and natural aerosols (e.g. mineral dust) from the East Asian continent. Conversely, eastern China has much higher levels of SWARF at the surface (SFC) due to anthropogenically emitted aerosol than in the Yellow Sea and the Korean Peninsula. Since the radiative forcing of aerosols in the atmosphere are different in type, aerosol types were classified into sea salt+sulphate, smoke, sulphate and dust by using satellite data. The analysis on the SWARF by the classified aerosol types indicated that sulphate occupies a predominant portion of the atmosphere in the Yellow Sea and the Korean Peninsula in the summer. In particular, the annual averages of the summer TOA SWARF increased in the Yellow Sea and the Korean Peninsula from 2001 to 2010.