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Black carbon absorption at the global scale is affected by particle-scale diversity in composition

Author

Listed:
  • Laura Fierce

    (Brookhaven National Laboratory
    Visiting Scientists Program, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research)

  • Tami C. Bond

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Susanne E. Bauer

    (NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
    The Earth Institute, Columbia University)

  • Francisco Mena

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Nicole Riemer

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Abstract

Atmospheric black carbon (BC) exerts a strong, but uncertain, warming effect on the climate. BC that is coated with non-absorbing material absorbs more strongly than the same amount of BC in an uncoated particle, but the magnitude of this absorption enhancement (Eabs) is not well constrained. Modelling studies and laboratory measurements have found stronger absorption enhancement than has been observed in the atmosphere. Here, using a particle-resolved aerosol model to simulate diverse BC populations, we show that absorption is overestimated by as much as a factor of two if diversity is neglected and population-averaged composition is assumed across all BC-containing particles. If, instead, composition diversity is resolved, we find Eabs=1−1.5 at low relative humidity, consistent with ambient observations. This study offers not only an explanation for the discrepancy between modelled and observed absorption enhancement, but also demonstrates how particle-scale simulations can be used to develop relationships for global-scale models.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Fierce & Tami C. Bond & Susanne E. Bauer & Francisco Mena & Nicole Riemer, 2016. "Black carbon absorption at the global scale is affected by particle-scale diversity in composition," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms12361
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12361
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    Cited by:

    1. Junjie Cai & Hongxing Jiang & Yingjun Chen & Zeyu Liu & Yong Han & Huizhong Shen & Jianzhong Song & Jun Li & Yanlin Zhang & Rong Wang & Jianmin Chen & Gan Zhang, 2023. "Char dominates black carbon aerosol emission and its historic reduction in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.

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