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Global organic and inorganic aerosol hygroscopicity and its effect on radiative forcing

Author

Listed:
  • Mira L. Pöhlker

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry
    Leipzig University
    Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research)

  • Christopher Pöhlker

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry)

  • Johannes Quaas

    (Leipzig University)

  • Johannes Mülmenstädt

    (Leipzig University
    Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

  • Andrea Pozzer

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry
    The Cyprus Institute)

  • Meinrat O. Andreae

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry
    University of California San Diego)

  • Paulo Artaxo

    (Universidade de São Paulo)

  • Karoline Block

    (Leipzig University)

  • Hugh Coe

    (University of Manchester)

  • Barbara Ervens

    (Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand)

  • Peter Gallimore

    (University of Manchester)

  • Cassandra J. Gaston

    (University of Miami)

  • Sachin S. Gunthe

    (Indian Institute of Technology Madras
    Indian Institute of Technology Madras)

  • Silvia Henning

    (Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research)

  • Hartmut Herrmann

    (Leibniz-Institute for Tropospheric Research)

  • Ovid O. Krüger

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry)

  • Gordon McFiggans

    (University of Manchester)

  • Laurent Poulain

    (Leibniz-Institute for Tropospheric Research)

  • Subha S. Raj

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry
    Indian Institute of Technology Madras)

  • Ernesto Reyes-Villegas

    (University of Manchester
    Tecnologico de Monterrey)

  • Haley M. Royer

    (University of Miami)

  • David Walter

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry
    Max Planck Institute for Chemistry)

  • Yuan Wang

    (Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research
    Lanzhou University)

  • Ulrich Pöschl

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry)

Abstract

The climate effects of atmospheric aerosol particles serving as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) depend on chemical composition and hygroscopicity, which are highly variable on spatial and temporal scales. Here we present global CCN measurements, covering diverse environments from pristine to highly polluted conditions. We show that the effective aerosol hygroscopicity, κ, can be derived accurately from the fine aerosol mass fractions of organic particulate matter (ϵorg) and inorganic ions (ϵinorg) through a linear combination, κ = ϵorg ⋅ κorg + ϵinorg ⋅ κinorg. In spite of the chemical complexity of organic matter, its hygroscopicity is well captured and represented by a global average value of κorg = 0.12 ± 0.02 with κinorg = 0.63 ± 0.01 as the corresponding value for inorganic ions. By showing that the sensitivity of global climate forcing to changes in κorg and κinorg is small, we constrain a critically important aspect of global climate modelling.

Suggested Citation

  • Mira L. Pöhlker & Christopher Pöhlker & Johannes Quaas & Johannes Mülmenstädt & Andrea Pozzer & Meinrat O. Andreae & Paulo Artaxo & Karoline Block & Hugh Coe & Barbara Ervens & Peter Gallimore & Cassa, 2023. "Global organic and inorganic aerosol hygroscopicity and its effect on radiative forcing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-41695-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41695-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. K. S. Carslaw & L. A. Lee & C. L. Reddington & K. J. Pringle & A. Rap & P. M. Forster & G. W. Mann & D. V. Spracklen & M. T. Woodhouse & L. A. Regayre & J. R. Pierce, 2013. "Large contribution of natural aerosols to uncertainty in indirect forcing," Nature, Nature, vol. 503(7474), pages 67-71, November.
    2. P. Zieger & O. Väisänen & J. C. Corbin & D. G. Partridge & S. Bastelberger & M. Mousavi-Fard & B. Rosati & M. Gysel & U. K. Krieger & C. Leck & A. Nenes & I. Riipinen & A. Virtanen & M. E. Salter, 2017. "Revising the hygroscopicity of inorganic sea salt particles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, August.
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