Publication Abstracts

Novakov et al. 2005

Novakov, T., S. Menon, T.W. Kirchstetter, D. Koch, and J.E. Hansen, 2005: Aerosol organic carbon to black carbon ratios: Analysis of published data and implications for climate forcing. J. Geophys. Res., 110, D21205, doi:10.1029/2005JD005977.

Measurements of organic carbon (OC) and black carbon (BC) concentrations over a varietyy of locations worldwide have been analyzed to infer the spatial distributions of the ratios of OC to BC. Since these ratios determine the relative amounts of scattering and absorption, they are often used to estimate the radiative forcing due to aerosols. An artifact of the protocol for filer measurements of OC has led to widespread overestimates of the ratio of OC to BC in atmospheric aerosols. We developed a criterion to correct for this artifact and analyze corrected OC to BC ratios. The OC to BC ratios, ranging from 1.3 to 2.4, appear relatively constant and are generally unaffected by seasonality, sources, or technology changes, at the locations considered here. The ratios compare well with emission inventories over Europe and China but are a factor of 2 lower in other regions. The reduced estimate for OC/BC in aerosols strengthens the argument that redution of soot emissions may be a useful approach to slow global warming.

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  • See also Novakov et al. 2007, "Reply to comment by R. L. Tanner and D. J. Eatough", J. Geophys. Res., 112, D02203.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{no03000u,
  author={Novakov, T. and Menon, S. and Kirchstetter, T. W. and Koch, D. and Hansen, J. E.},
  title={Aerosol organic carbon to black carbon ratios: Analysis of published data and implications for climate forcing},
  year={2005},
  journal={Journal of Geophysical Research},
  volume={110},
  pages={D21205},
  doi={10.1029/2005JD005977},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - no03000u
AU  - Novakov, T.
AU  - Menon, S.
AU  - Kirchstetter, T. W.
AU  - Koch, D.
AU  - Hansen, J. E.
PY  - 2005
TI  - Aerosol organic carbon to black carbon ratios: Analysis of published data and implications for climate forcing
JA  - J. Geophys. Res.
JO  - Journal of Geophysical Research
VL  - 110
SP  - D21205
DO  - 10.1029/2005JD005977
ER  -

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