Continental anthropogenic primary particle number emissions
Atmospheric aerosol particle number concentrations impact our climate and health in ways different from those of aerosol mass concentrations. However, the global, current and future anthropogenic particle number emissions and their size distributions are so far poorly known. In this article, we p...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2016-06-01
|
| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/6823/2016/acp-16-6823-2016.pdf |
| Summary: | Atmospheric aerosol particle number concentrations impact our climate and
health in ways different from those of aerosol mass concentrations. However,
the global, current and future anthropogenic particle number emissions and
their size distributions are so far poorly known. In this article, we present
the implementation of particle number emission factors and the related size
distributions in the GAINS (Greenhouse Gas–Air Pollution Interactions and
Synergies) model. This implementation allows for global estimates of particle
number emissions under different future scenarios, consistent with emissions
of other pollutants and greenhouse gases. In addition to determining the
general particulate number emissions, we also describe a method to estimate
the number size distributions of the emitted black carbon particles. The first results
show that the sources dominating the particle number emissions are different
to those dominating the mass emissions. The major global number source is
road traffic, followed by residential combustion of biofuels and coal
(especially in China, India and Africa), coke production (Russia and China),
and industrial combustion and processes. The size distributions of emitted
particles differ across the world, depending on the main sources: in regions
dominated by traffic and industry, the number size distribution of emissions
peaks in diameters range from 20 to 50 nm, whereas in regions with intensive
biofuel combustion and/or agricultural waste burning, the emissions of
particles with diameters around 100 nm are dominant. In the baseline (current
legislation) scenario, the particle number emissions in Europe, Northern and
Southern Americas, Australia, and China decrease until 2030, whereas
especially for India, a strong increase is estimated. The results of this
study provide input for modelling of the future changes in aerosol–cloud
interactions as well as particle number related adverse health effects, e.g.
in response to tightening emission regulations. However, there are
significant uncertainties in these current emission estimates and the key
actions for decreasing the uncertainties are pointed out. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |