Publication Abstracts

Samset et al. 2014

Samset, B.H., G. Myhre, A. Herber, Y. Kondo, S.-M. Li, N. Moteki, M. Koike, N. Oshima, J.P. Schwarz, Y. Balkanski, S.E. Bauer, N. Bellouin, T.K. Berntsen, H. Bian, M. Chin, T. Diehl, R.C. Easter, S.J. Ghan, T. Iversen, A. Kirkevåg, J.-F. Lamarque, G. Lin, X. Liu, J.E. Penner, M. Schulz, Ø. Seland, R.B. Skeie, P. Stier, T. Takemura, K. Tsigaridis, and K. Zhang, 2014: Modelled black carbon radiative forcing and atmospheric lifetime in AeroCom Phase II constrained by aircraft observations. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 12465-12477, doi:10.5194/acp-14-12465-2014.

Atmospheric black carbon (BC) absorbs solar radiation, and exacerbates global warming through exerting positive radiative forcing (RF). However, the contribution of BC to ongoing changes in global climate is under debate. Anthropogenic BC emissions, and the resulting distribution of BC concentration, are highly uncertain. In particular, long-range transport and processes affecting BC atmospheric lifetime are poorly understood. Here we discuss whether recent assessments may have overestimated present-day BC radiative forcing in remote regions. We compare vertical profiles of BC concentration from four recent aircraft measurement campaigns to simulations by 13 aerosol models participating in the AeroCom Phase II intercomparison. An atmospheric lifetime of BC of less than 5 days is shown to be essential for reproducing observations in remote ocean regions, in line with other recent studies. Adjusting model results to measurements in remote regions, and at high altitudes, leads to a 25% reduction in AeroCom Phase II median direct BC forcing, from fossil fuel and biofuel burning, over the industrial era. The sensitivity of modelled forcing to BC vertical profile and lifetime highlights an urgent need for further flight campaigns, close to sources and in remote regions, to provide improved quantification of BC effects for use in climate policy.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{sa01300f,
  author={Samset, B. H. and Myhre, G. and Herber, A. and Kondo, Y. and Li, S.-M. and Moteki, N. and Koike, M. and Oshima, N. and Schwarz, J. P. and Balkanski, Y. and Bauer, S. E. and Bellouin, N. and Berntsen, T. K. and Bian, H. and Chin, M. and Diehl, T. and Easter, R. C. and Ghan, S. J. and Iversen, T. and Kirkevåg, A. and Lamarque, J.-F. and Lin, G. and Liu, X. and Penner, J. E. and Schulz, M. and Seland, Ø. and Skeie, R. B. and Stier, P. and Takemura, T. and Tsigaridis, K. and Zhang, K.},
  title={Modelled black carbon radiative forcing and atmospheric lifetime in AeroCom Phase II constrained by aircraft observations},
  year={2014},
  journal={Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics},
  volume={14},
  pages={12465--12477},
  doi={10.5194/acp-14-12465-2014},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - sa01300f
AU  - Samset, B. H.
AU  - Myhre, G.
AU  - Herber, A.
AU  - Kondo, Y.
AU  - Li, S.-M.
AU  - Moteki, N.
AU  - Koike, M.
AU  - Oshima, N.
AU  - Schwarz, J. P.
AU  - Balkanski, Y.
AU  - Bauer, S. E.
AU  - Bellouin, N.
AU  - Berntsen, T. K.
AU  - Bian, H.
AU  - Chin, M.
AU  - Diehl, T.
AU  - Easter, R. C.
AU  - Ghan, S. J.
AU  - Iversen, T.
AU  - Kirkevåg, A.
AU  - Lamarque, J.-F.
AU  - Lin, G.
AU  - Liu, X.
AU  - Penner, J. E.
AU  - Schulz, M.
AU  - Seland, Ø.
AU  - Skeie, R. B.
AU  - Stier, P.
AU  - Takemura, T.
AU  - Tsigaridis, K.
AU  - Zhang, K.
PY  - 2014
TI  - Modelled black carbon radiative forcing and atmospheric lifetime in AeroCom Phase II constrained by aircraft observations
JA  - Atmos. Chem. Phys.
JO  - Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
VL  - 14
SP  - 12465
EP  - 12477
DO  - 10.5194/acp-14-12465-2014
ER  -

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