Journal article
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.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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- Files:
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(Preview, Version of record, pdf, 14.1MB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.5194/acp-13-2423-2013
Authors
- Publisher:
- European Geosciences Union (EGU)
- Journal:
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics More from this journal
- Volume:
- 13
- Issue:
- 5
- Pages:
- 2423-2434
- Publication date:
- 2013-03-01
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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1680-7324
- ISSN:
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1680-7324
- Pubs id:
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pubs:388061
- UUID:
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uuid:322d7b5c-af2c-4a8c-98cd-1a2411d78105
- Local pid:
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pubs:388061
- Source identifiers:
-
388061
- Deposit date:
-
2013-09-26
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Samset et al
- Copyright date:
- 2013
- Notes:
- Copyright Samset et al. 2013. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
- Licence:
- CC Attribution (CC BY)
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