Aerosol single scattering albedo dependence on biomass combustion efficiency: Laboratory and field studies

Shang Liu; Allison C Aiken; Caleb Arata; Manvendra K Dubey; Chelsea E Stockwell; Robert J Yokelson; Elizabeth A Stone; Thilina Jayarathne; Allen L Robinson; Paul J DeMott; Sonia M Kreidenweis

doi:10.1002/2013GL058392

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Aerosol single scattering albedo dependence on biomass combustion efficiency: Laboratory and field studies

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Aerosol single scattering albedo dependence on biomass combustion efficiency: Laboratory and field studies

Shang Liu, Allison C Aiken, Caleb Arata, Manvendra K Dubey, Chelsea E Stockwell, Robert J Yokelson, Elizabeth A Stone, Thilina Jayarathne, Allen L Robinson, Paul J DeMott, …

Geophysical Research Letters, Vol.41(2), pp.742-748

01/28/2014

DOI: 10.1002/2013GL058392

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Abstract

Single scattering albedo (ω) of fresh biomass burning (BB) aerosols produced from 92 controlled laboratory combustion experiments of 20 different woods and grasses was analyzed to determine the factors that control the variability in ω. Results show that ω varies strongly with fire‐integrated modified combustion efficiency (MCEFI)—higher MCEFI results in lower ω values and greater spectral dependence of ω. A parameterization of ω as a function of MCEFI for fresh BB aerosols is derived from the laboratory data and is evaluated by field observations from two wildfires. The parameterization suggests that MCEFI explains 60% of the variability in ω, while the 40% unexplained variability could be accounted for by other parameters such as fuel type. Our parameterization provides a promising framework that requires further validation and is amenable for refinements to predict ω with greater confidence, which is critical for estimating the radiative forcing of BB aerosols. Key Points Aerosol single scattering albedo depends most strongly on combustion efficiency Parameterization of single scattering albedo of fresh biomass burning aerosols Strong spectral variation of single scattering albedo is observed

biomass burning

brown carbon

wavelength dependence

combustion efficiency

single scattering albedo

FLAME

Details

Title: Subtitle: Aerosol single scattering albedo dependence on biomass combustion efficiency: Laboratory and field studies
Creators: Shang Liu - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Allison C Aiken - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Caleb Arata - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Manvendra K Dubey - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Chelsea E Stockwell - University of Montana
Robert J Yokelson - University of Montana
Elizabeth A Stone - University of Iowa
Thilina Jayarathne - University of Iowa
Allen L Robinson - Carnegie Mellon University
Paul J DeMott - Colorado State University
Sonia M Kreidenweis - Colorado State University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Geophysical Research Letters, Vol.41(2), pp.742-748
DOI: 10.1002/2013GL058392
ISSN: 0094-8276
eISSN: 1944-8007
Number of pages: 7
Grant note: NSF (ATM‐0936321)
Language: English
Date published: 01/28/2014
Academic Unit: Chemistry; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Record Identifier: 9983985844102771

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