Estimating the direct and indirect effects of secondary organic aerosols using ECHAM5-HAM

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) has been introduced into the global climate-aerosol model ECHAM5/HAM. The SOA module handles aerosols originating from both biogenic and anthropogenic sources. The model simulates the emission of precursor gases, their chemical conversion into condensable gases, the p...

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Main Authors: D. O'Donnell, K. Tsigaridis, J. Feichter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2011-08-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/8635/2011/acp-11-8635-2011.pdf
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author D. O'Donnell
K. Tsigaridis
J. Feichter
author_facet D. O'Donnell
K. Tsigaridis
J. Feichter
author_sort D. O'Donnell
collection DOAJ
description Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) has been introduced into the global climate-aerosol model ECHAM5/HAM. The SOA module handles aerosols originating from both biogenic and anthropogenic sources. The model simulates the emission of precursor gases, their chemical conversion into condensable gases, the partitioning of semi-volatile condenable species into the gas and aerosol phases. As ECHAM5/HAM is a size-resolved model, a new method that permits the calculation of partitioning of semi-volatile species between different size classes is introduced. We compare results of modelled organic aerosol concentrations against measurements from extensive measurement networks in Europe and the United States, running the model with and without SOA. We also compare modelled aerosol optical depth against measurements from the AERONET network of grond stations. We find that SOA improves agreement between model and measurements in both organic aerosol mass and aerosol optical depth, but does not fully correct the low bias that is present in the model for both of these quantities. Although many models now include SOA, any overall estimate of the direct and indirect effects of these aerosols is still lacking. This paper makes a first step in that direction. The model is applied to estimate the direct and indirect effects of SOA under simulated year 2000 conditions. The modelled SOA spatial distribution indicates that SOA is likely to be an important source of free and upper tropospheric aerosol. We find a negative shortwave (SW) forcing from the direct effect, amounting to −0.31 Wm<sup>−2</sup> on the global annual mean. In contrast, the model indicates a positive indirect effect of SOA of +0.23 Wm<sup>−2</sup>, arising from the enlargement of particles due to condensation of SOA, together with an enhanced coagulation sink of small particles. In the longwave, model results are a direct effect of +0.02 Wm<sup>−2</sup> and an indirect effect of −0.03 Wm<sup>−2</sup>.
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spelling doaj.art-1a51ef82a9a341e499628b4c5a21562f2022-12-21T17:49:59ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242011-08-0111168635865910.5194/acp-11-8635-2011Estimating the direct and indirect effects of secondary organic aerosols using ECHAM5-HAMD. O'DonnellK. TsigaridisJ. FeichterSecondary organic aerosol (SOA) has been introduced into the global climate-aerosol model ECHAM5/HAM. The SOA module handles aerosols originating from both biogenic and anthropogenic sources. The model simulates the emission of precursor gases, their chemical conversion into condensable gases, the partitioning of semi-volatile condenable species into the gas and aerosol phases. As ECHAM5/HAM is a size-resolved model, a new method that permits the calculation of partitioning of semi-volatile species between different size classes is introduced. We compare results of modelled organic aerosol concentrations against measurements from extensive measurement networks in Europe and the United States, running the model with and without SOA. We also compare modelled aerosol optical depth against measurements from the AERONET network of grond stations. We find that SOA improves agreement between model and measurements in both organic aerosol mass and aerosol optical depth, but does not fully correct the low bias that is present in the model for both of these quantities. Although many models now include SOA, any overall estimate of the direct and indirect effects of these aerosols is still lacking. This paper makes a first step in that direction. The model is applied to estimate the direct and indirect effects of SOA under simulated year 2000 conditions. The modelled SOA spatial distribution indicates that SOA is likely to be an important source of free and upper tropospheric aerosol. We find a negative shortwave (SW) forcing from the direct effect, amounting to −0.31 Wm<sup>−2</sup> on the global annual mean. In contrast, the model indicates a positive indirect effect of SOA of +0.23 Wm<sup>−2</sup>, arising from the enlargement of particles due to condensation of SOA, together with an enhanced coagulation sink of small particles. In the longwave, model results are a direct effect of +0.02 Wm<sup>−2</sup> and an indirect effect of −0.03 Wm<sup>−2</sup>.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/8635/2011/acp-11-8635-2011.pdf
spellingShingle D. O'Donnell
K. Tsigaridis
J. Feichter
Estimating the direct and indirect effects of secondary organic aerosols using ECHAM5-HAM
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title Estimating the direct and indirect effects of secondary organic aerosols using ECHAM5-HAM
title_full Estimating the direct and indirect effects of secondary organic aerosols using ECHAM5-HAM
title_fullStr Estimating the direct and indirect effects of secondary organic aerosols using ECHAM5-HAM
title_full_unstemmed Estimating the direct and indirect effects of secondary organic aerosols using ECHAM5-HAM
title_short Estimating the direct and indirect effects of secondary organic aerosols using ECHAM5-HAM
title_sort estimating the direct and indirect effects of secondary organic aerosols using echam5 ham
url http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/8635/2011/acp-11-8635-2011.pdf
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