The primary aerosol models and distribution characteristics over China based on the AERONET data

•The clustering algorithm was used to analyze the data of AERONET stations in China, and eight aerosol models were proposed.•Based on the analysis of the physical, chemical and optical properties of aerosols, eight aerosol models established had been named.•The established eight aerosols models were used to analyze the spatial-temporal distribution of aerosols in China. The aerosol model is generally adopted to describe the typical aerosol properties in a specific region, and it is an indispensable input parameter in radiative transfer calculations. It contains basic knowledge for many applications related to the Earth atmosphere. Based on data acquired at aerosol robotic network (AERONET) sites across China, eight aerosol types namely, carbonaceous-black carbon (CBC) type, carbonaceous-brown carbon (CBrC) type, dust-desert (DD) type, dust-city (DC) type, high-humidity and high-pollution(HH-HP) type, high-humidity and low-pollution (HH-LP) type, low-humidity and high-pollution (LH-HP) type, and low-humidity and low-pollution (LH-LP) type, are obtained by cluster analysis, and the robustness of the clustering algorithm is then verified. The seasonal variations of the above aerosol types in Beijing, Taihu Lake, Lanzhou and Taiwan are analyzed. The eight aerosol models established provide a basis for the overall description of aerosols properties in China, and they could be applied in the development of satellite remote sensing algorithms. These models may improve the accuracy and effectiveness of various applications related to atmospheric radiative transfer in China.