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Light Absorption Properties and Radiative Effects of Primary Organic Aerosol Emissions.
- Source :
-
Environmental Science & Technology . 4/21/2015, Vol. 49 Issue 8, p4868-4877. 10p. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Organic aerosols (OAs) in the atmosphere affect Earth's energy budget by not only scattering but also absorbing solar radiation due to the presence of the so-called "brown carbon" (BrC) component. However, the absorptivities of OAs are not represented or are poorly represented in current climate and chemical transport models. In this study, we provide a method to constrain the BrC absorptivity at the emission inventory level using recent laboratory and field observations. We review available measurements of the light-absorbing primary OA (POA), and quantify the wavelength-dependent imaginary refractive indices (kOA, the fundamental optical parameter determining the particle's absorptivity) and their uncertainties for the bulk POA emitted from biomass/biofuel, lignite, propane, and oil combustion sources. In particular, we parametrize the kOA of biomass/biofuel combustion sources as a function of the black carbon (BC)-to-OA ratio, indicating that the absorptive properties of POA depend strongly on burning conditions. The derived fuel-type-based kOA profiles are incorporated into a global carbonaceous aerosol emission inventory, and the integrated kOA values of sectoral and total POA emissions are presented. Results of a simple radiative transfer model show that the POA absorptivity warms the atmosphere significantly and leads to ∼27% reduction in the amount of the net global average POA cooling compared to results from the nonabsorbing assumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0013936X
- Volume :
- 49
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Environmental Science & Technology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 102587086
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00211