Black Carbon Vertical Profiles Research Articles

How shorter black carbon lifetime alters its climate effect

Black carbon (BC), unlike most aerosol types, absorbs solar radiation. However, the quantification of its climate impact is uncertain and presently under debate. Recently, attention has been drawn both to a likely underestimation of global BC emissions in climate models, and an overestimation of BC at high altitudes. Here we show that doubling present day BC emissions in a model simulation, while reducing BC lifetime based on observational evidence, leaves the direct aerosol effect of BC virtually unchanged. Increased emissions, together with increased wet removal that reduces the lifetime, yields modelled BC vertical profiles that are in strongly improved agreement with recent aircraft observations. Furthermore, we explore the consequences of an altered BC profile in a global circulation model, and show that both the vertical profile of BC and rapid climate adjustments need to be taken into account in order to assess the total climate impact of BC.

Impact of black carbon aerosol over Italian basin valleys: high-resolution measurements along vertical profiles, radiative forcing and heating rate

Abstract. A systematic study of black carbon (BC) vertical profiles measured at high-resolution over three Italian basin valleys (Terni Valley, Po Valley and Passiria Valley) is presented. BC vertical profiles are scarcely available in literature. The campaign lasted 45 days and resulted in 120 measured vertical profiles. Besides the BC mass concentration, measurements along the vertical profiles also included aerosol size distributions in the optical particle counter range, chemical analysis of filter samples and a full set of meteorological parameters. Using the collected experimental data, we performed calculations of aerosol optical properties along the vertical profiles. The results, validated with AERONET data, were used as inputs to a radiative transfer model (libRadtran). The latter allowed an estimation of vertical profiles of the aerosol direct radiative effect, the atmospheric absorption and the heating rate in the lower troposphere. The present measurements revealed some common behaviors over the studied basin valleys. Specifically, at the mixing height, marked concentration drops of both BC (range: from −48.4 ± 5.3 to −69.1 ± 5.5%) and aerosols (range: from −23.9 ± 4.3 to −46.5 ± 7.3%) were found. The measured percentage decrease of BC was higher than that of aerosols: therefore, the BC aerosol fraction decreased upwards. Correspondingly, both the absorption and scattering coefficients decreased strongly across the mixing layer (range: from −47.6 ± 2.5 to −71.3 ± 3.0% and from −23.5 ± 0.8 to −61.2 ± 3.1%, respectively) resulting in a single-scattering albedo increase along height (range: from +4.9 ± 2.2 to +7.4 ± 1.0%). This behavior influenced the vertical distribution of the aerosol direct radiative effect and of the heating rate. In this respect, the highest atmospheric absorption of radiation was predicted below the mixing height (~ 2–3 times larger than above it) resulting in a heating rate characterized by a vertical negative gradient (range: from −2.6 ± 0.2 to −8.3 ± 1.2 K day−1 km−1). In conclusion, the present results suggest that the BC below the mixing height has the potential to promote a negative feedback on the atmospheric stability over basin valleys, weakening the ground-based thermal inversions and increasing the dispersal conditions.

Double blanket effect caused by two layers of black carbon aerosols escalates warming in the Brahmaputra River Valley

First ever 3-day aircraft observations of vertical profiles of Black Carbon (BC) were obtained during the Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX) conducted on 30th August, 4th and 6th September 2009 over Guwahati (26°11′N, 91°44′E), the largest metropolitan city in the Brahmaputra River Valley (BRV) region. The results revealed that apart from the surface/near surface loading of BC due to anthropogenic processes causing a heating of 2 K/day, the large-scale Walker and Hadley atmospheric circulations associated with the Indian summer monsoon help in the formation of a second layer of black carbon in the upper atmosphere, which generates an upper atmospheric heating of ~2 K/day. Lofting of BC aerosols by these large-scale circulating atmospheric cells to the upper atmosphere (4–6 Km) could also be the reason for extreme climate change scenarios that are being witnessed in the BRV region.

Global-scale seasonally resolved black carbon vertical profiles over the Pacific.

[1] Black carbon (BC) aerosol loadings were measured during the High-performance Instrumented Airborne Platform for Environmental Research Pole-to-Pole Observations (HIPPO) campaign above the remote Pacific from 85°N to 67°S. Over 700 vertical profiles extending from near the surface to max ∼14 km altitude were obtained with a single-particle soot photometer between early 2009 and mid-2011. The data provides a climatology of BC in the remote regions that reveals gradients of BC concentration reflecting global-scale transport and removal of pollution. BC is identified as a sensitive tracer of extratropical mixing into the lower tropical tropopause layer and trends toward surprisingly uniform loadings in the lower stratosphere of ∼1 ng/kg. The climatology is compared to predictions from the AeroCom global model intercomparison initiative. The AeroCom model suite overestimates loads in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (∼10×) more severely than at lower altitudes (∼3×), with bias roughly independent of season or geographic location; these results indicate that it overestimates BC lifetime.

Black carbon vertical profiles strongly affect its radiative forcing uncertainty

Abstract. The impact of black carbon (BC) aerosols on the global radiation balance is not well constrained. Here twelve global aerosol models are used to show that at least 20% of the present uncertainty in modeled BC direct radiative forcing (RF) is due to diversity in the simulated vertical profile of BC mass. Results are from phases 1 and 2 of the global aerosol model intercomparison project (AeroCom). Additionally, a significant fraction of the variability is shown to come from high altitudes, as, globally, more than 40% of the total BC RF is exerted above 5 km. BC emission regions and areas with transported BC are found to have differing characteristics. These insights into the importance of the vertical profile of BC lead us to suggest that observational studies are needed to better characterize the global distribution of BC, including in the upper troposphere.

Effect of atmospheric stability on the impact of domestic wood combustion to air quality of a small urban township in winter

In the winter of 2011, a field campaign was undertaken in the small township of Nelson, New Zealand to measure the vertical and horizontal distribution of concentrations of airborne particulate matter. The aim of this campaign was to improve our understanding of the causal factors which result in periods of very high concentrations of particulate pollution in small townships during winter where emissions are dominated by the combustion of wood for domestic heating. The results showed that mean hourly surface concentrations of particulates throughout the airshed were characterized by a distinctive diurnal cycle, with two peaks in concentration (one in the late evening and then, unusually, a second mid-morning). Although the timing and magnitude of hourly peak concentrations was variable throughout the valley, there was no evidence to suggest that regional or topographic flows played a significant role in the build-up of pollutants at any given location.Analysis of vertical profiles of black carbon showed that high concentrations of particulates were confined to the lowest 50 m of the boundary layer. Concentrations decreased with increasing height within this polluted surface layer. The atmosphere was very stable during the evening period. After midnight, a period of increased mixing was consistently identified throughout the lowest 100 m of the boundary layer and associated with the sudden cleansing of the surface and lower layers of the boundary layer. Throughout the observational period there was no evidence for the storage of pollutants aloft. Thus the vertical mixing of pollutants to the surface could not account for increased pollutant concentrations during the morning period. However, at this time the boundary layer remained stable and concentrations of black carbon were mixed through a very shallow layer. This suggests that despite lower domestic heating emissions in the morning, the reduced mixing volume is a likely cause of the observed marked peak in morning surface concentrations.

Vertical profiles of black carbon aerosols over the urban locations in South India

Vertical profiles of black carbon (BC) aerosol were determined from aircraft measurements under the Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX) program conducted by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, India during 2009 over Bangalore and Hyderabad in south India. BC mass loadings decreased approximately monotonically from 103 to 104ng/m3 at the surface to ~102ng/m3 at an altitude of about 7km; although layers at intermediate levels containing anomalously high BC loadings were frequently encountered that were attributed mainly to the convective transport from surface sources accompanied by changes in the local boundary layer and atmospheric stability. In addition, as evidenced from air mass back trajectories; long range transport from distant sources contributed to some anomalous spikes in BC concentration. The presence of BC in cloud forming regions of the free troposphere could have important implications for cloud microphysics and subsequent rainfall mechanism over this region. Apart from this, the effects on human health are equally important.

Wet removal of black carbon in Asian outflow: Aerosol Radiative Forcing in East Asia (A‐FORCE) aircraft campaign

The Aerosol Radiative Forcing in East Asia (A‐FORCE) aircraft campaign was conducted over East Asia in March–April 2009. During the A‐FORCE campaign, 120 vertical profiles of black carbon (BC) and carbon monoxide (CO) were obtained in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) and the free troposphere. This study examines the wet removal of BC in Asian outflow using the A‐FORCE data. The concentrations of BC and CO were greatly enhanced in air parcels sampled at 3–6 km in altitude over the Yellow Sea on 30 March 2009, associated with upward transport due to a cyclone with modest amounts of precipitation over northern China. In contrast, high CO concentrations without substantial enhancements of BC concentrations were observed in air parcels sampled at 5–6 km over the East China Sea on 23 April 2009, caused by uplifting due to cumulus convection with large amounts of precipitation over central China. The transport efficiency of BC (TEBC, namely the fraction of BC particles not removed during transport) in air parcels sampled above 2 km during the entire A‐FORCE period decreased primarily with the increase in the precipitation amount that air parcels experienced during vertical transport, although their correlation was modest (r2 = 0.43). TEBC also depended on the altitude to which air parcels were transported from the PBL and the latitude where they were uplifted locally over source regions. The median values of TEBC for air parcels originating from northern China (north of 33°N) and sampled at 2–4 km and 4–9 km levels were 86% and 49%, respectively, during the A‐FORCE period. These median values were systematically greater than the corresponding median values (69% and 32%, respectively) for air parcels originating from southern China (south of 33°N). Use of the A‐FORCE data set will contribute to the reduction of large uncertainties in wet removal process of BC in global‐ and regional‐scale models.

Evaluation of factors controlling long-range transport of black carbon to the Arctic

[1] This study evaluates the sensitivity of long-range transport of black carbon (BC) from midlatitude and high-latitude source regions to the Arctic to aging, dry deposition, and wet removal processes using the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) coupled chemistry and climate model (AM3). We derive a simple parameterization for BC aging (i.e., coating with soluble materials) which allows the rate of aging to vary diurnally and seasonally. Slow aging during winter permits BC to remain largely hydrophobic throughout transport from midlatitude source regions to the Arctic. In addition, we apply surface-dependent dry deposition velocities and reduce the wet removal efficiency of BC in ice clouds. The inclusion of the above parameterizations significantly improves simulated magnitude, seasonal cycle, and vertical profile of BC over the Arctic compared with those in the base model configuration. In particular, wintertime concentrations of BC in the Arctic are increased by a factor of 100 throughout the tropospheric column. On the basis of sensitivity tests involving each process, we find that the transport of BC to the Arctic is a synergistic process. A comprehensive understanding of microphysics and chemistry related to aging, dry and wet removal processes is thus essential to the simulation of BC concentrations over the Arctic.

Perturbation of the European free troposphere aerosol by North American forest fire plumes during the ICARTT-ITOP experiment in summer 2004

Abstract. During the ICARTT-ITOP Experiment in summer 2004 plumes from large wildfires in North America were transported to Central Europe at 3–8 km altitude above sea level (a.s.l.). These plumes were studied with the DLR (Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt) research aircraft Falcon which was equipped with an extensive set of in situ aerosol and trace gas instruments. Analyses by the Lagrangian dispersion model FLEXPART provided source regions, transport times and horizontal extent of the fire plumes. Results from the general circulation model ECHAM/MADE and data from previous aerosol studies over Central Europe provided reference vertical profiles of black carbon (BC) mass concentrations for year 2000 conditions with forest fire activities below the long-term average. Smoke plume observations yielded a BC mass fraction of total aerosol mass with respect to PM 2.5 of 2–8%. The ratio of BC mass to excess CO was 3–7.5 mg BC (g CO)−1. Even after up to 10 days of atmospheric transport, both characteristic properties were of the same order as for fresh emissions. This suggests an efficient lifting of BC from forest fires to higher altitudes with only minor scavenging removal of particulate matter. Maximum aerosol absorption coefficient values were 7–8 Mm−1 which is about two orders of magnitude above the average European free tropospheric background value. Forest fire aerosol size distributions were characterised by a strong internally mixed accumulation mode centred at modal diameters of 0.25–0.30 µm with an average distribution width of 1.30. Nucleation and small Aitken mode particles were almost completely depleted.

Impact of vertical atmospheric structure on Beijing aerosol distribution

In August 2004, original informations on Beijing aerosol layers were obtained downtown from experiments achieved during clear and polluted days along the IAP 325-m meteorological tower and a micro-pulse LIDAR operating at BMEMC. Beijing urban boundary layer (UBL) is seen to follow the expected diurnal pattern with low height values at night (80±50 m) and much higher values (up to 3000 m) at daytime. An original process of temperature profiles is shown to closely reconstruct the UBL and sub-layer evolution. UBL vertical extension becomes significant after a short transition period at 10:00 during which at all the tower levels, wind speed increases and wind direction changes dramatically from the synoptic northerly flow to almost the opposite direction (SSW). Additional data from background stations show pollution episodes that may be related to horizontal transport at low altitude during the morning or evening transition periods. Vertical profiles of black carbon (BC) and particle number concentration (N) and LIDAR signal evidence the formation of accumulation layers at 60 m and 90 m probably related to the urban canopy. Using the N/BC ratio, an important chemical reactivity may be observed within the accumulation layers and is still distinguishable during cloudy weather. Reactivity in the vertical column appears to increase with altitude, which might point to the significance of solar radiation shielding by particles. Chemical analyses confirm, in the morning, the presence of a very distinct layer at the top of the tower and show, in the afternoon, a significant mixing (17%) between the UBL and the regional flow above.

Measured profiles of aerosol particle absorption and its influence on clear‐sky solar radiative forcing

Using a particle/soot absorption photometer (PSAP), airborne measurements of aerosol volume absorption coefficients were done in differently polluted air masses over a rural area in Germany under cloudless conditions in December 1997. Together with measurements of aerosol particle size distribution, particle chemical composition, and meteorological parameters, the PSAP‐measurements were used (1) to estimate vertical profiles of black carbon (BC) volume fraction and (2) to quantify the influence of particle absorption on solar radiative transfer by calculating their solar radiative forcing at the top of the atmosphere (TOA). Three case studies with different levels of absorption were investigated in detail. The vertical profiles of the volume absorption coefficient showed maximum values close to the ground (>6×10−5 m−1 in the most absorbing case) and a strong drop‐off toward higher altitudes. The estimated BC volume fractions were typically largest near the ground and decreased rapidly with increasing altitude. Radiative transfer calculations were carried out with and without consideration of the measured absorption of the particles. In the polluted cases and assuming a low surface albedo, the negative TOA solar radiative forcing of the aerosol particles decreased significantly when the measured particle absorption profiles were included in the calculations. Assuming a snow‐covered ground in these cases, the aerosol forcing changed from a cooling without aerosol particle absorption into a heating if the measured absorption of the particles was considered. An investigation of the forcing dependence on the solar zenith angle showed an increasing influence of the particle absorption for higher sun elevations.