Light absorption properties and radiative effects of primary organic aerosol emissions

Zifeng Lu; David G Streets; Ekbordin Winijkul; Fang Yan; Yanju Chen; Tami C Bond; Yan Feng; Manvendra K Dubey; Shang Liu; Joseph P Pinto; Gregory R Carmichael

doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b00211

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Light absorption properties and radiative effects of primary organic aerosol emissions

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Light absorption properties and radiative effects of primary organic aerosol emissions

Zifeng Lu, David G Streets, Ekbordin Winijkul, Fang Yan, Yanju Chen, Tami C Bond, Yan Feng, Manvendra K Dubey, Shang Liu, Joseph P Pinto, …

Environmental science & technology, Vol.49(8), pp.4868-4877

04/21/2015

DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00211

PMID: 25811601

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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.

Aerosols - analysis

Aerosols - chemistry

Air Pollutants - chemistry

Atmosphere - chemistry

Biofuels

Biomass

Carbon - chemistry

Climate

Light

Models, Theoretical

Refractometry

Soot - chemistry

Details

Title: Subtitle: Light absorption properties and radiative effects of primary organic aerosol emissions
Creators: Zifeng Lu - Argonne National Laboratory
David G Streets - Argonne National Laboratory
Ekbordin Winijkul - Argonne National Laboratory
Fang Yan - Argonne National Laboratory
Yanju Chen - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Tami C Bond - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Yan Feng - Argonne National Laboratory
Manvendra K Dubey - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Shang Liu - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Joseph P Pinto - Research Triangle Park
Gregory R Carmichael - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Environmental science & technology, Vol.49(8), pp.4868-4877
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00211
PMID: 25811601
NLM abbreviation: Environ Sci Technol
ISSN: 0013-936X
eISSN: 1520-5851
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100006206, name: Biological and Environmental Research
Language: English
Date published: 04/21/2015
Academic Unit: Civil and Environmental Engineering; Nursing; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Record Identifier: 9984185365002771

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