Simultaneous reductions in emissions of black carbon and co-emitted species will weaken the aerosol net cooling effect
Black carbon (BC), a distinct type of carbonaceous material formed from the incomplete combustion of fossil and biomass based fuels under certain conditions, can interact with solar radiation and clouds through its strong light-absorption ability, thereby warming the Earth's climate system. Som...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2015-04-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/15/3671/2015/acp-15-3671-2015.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819073030668681216 |
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| author | Z. L. Wang H. Zhang X. Y. Zhang |
| author_facet | Z. L. Wang H. Zhang X. Y. Zhang |
| author_sort | Z. L. Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Black carbon (BC), a distinct type of carbonaceous material formed from the
incomplete combustion of fossil and biomass based fuels under certain
conditions, can interact with solar radiation and clouds through its strong
light-absorption ability, thereby warming the Earth's climate system. Some
studies have even suggested that global warming could be slowed down
in the short term by eliminating BC emission due to its short lifetime. In
this study, we estimate the influence of removing some sources of BC and
other co-emitted species on the aerosol radiative effect by using an
aerosol–climate atmosphere-only model BCC_AGCM2.0.1_CUACE/Aero with prescribed sea surface temperature
and sea ice cover, in combination with the aerosol emissions from the
Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) scenarios. We find that the
global annual mean aerosol net cooling effect at the top of the atmosphere
(TOA) will be enhanced by 0.12 W m<sup>−2</sup> compared with recent past year
2000 levels if the emissions of only BC are reduced to the level projected
for 2100 based on the RCP2.6 scenario. This will be beneficial~for the
mitigation of global warming. However, both aerosol negative direct and
indirect radiative effects are weakened when BC and its co-emitted species
(sulfur dioxide and organic carbon) are simultaneously reduced. Relative to
year 2000 levels, the global annual mean aerosol net cooling effect at the
TOA will be weakened by 1.7–2.0 W m<sup>−2</sup> if the emissions of all these
aerosols are decreased to the levels projected for 2100 in different ways
based on the RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 scenarios. Because there are no
effective ways to remove the BC exclusively without influencing the other
co-emitted components, our results therefore indicate that a reduction in BC
emission can lead to an unexpected warming on the Earth's climate system in
the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T17:47:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b1f6cac7c027495c9e85121ffac0a250 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T17:47:08Z |
| publishDate | 2015-04-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-b1f6cac7c027495c9e85121ffac0a2502022-12-21T18:55:28ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242015-04-011573671368510.5194/acp-15-3671-2015Simultaneous reductions in emissions of black carbon and co-emitted species will weaken the aerosol net cooling effectZ. L. Wang0H. Zhang1X. Y. Zhang2Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, ChinaChinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, ChinaBlack carbon (BC), a distinct type of carbonaceous material formed from the incomplete combustion of fossil and biomass based fuels under certain conditions, can interact with solar radiation and clouds through its strong light-absorption ability, thereby warming the Earth's climate system. Some studies have even suggested that global warming could be slowed down in the short term by eliminating BC emission due to its short lifetime. In this study, we estimate the influence of removing some sources of BC and other co-emitted species on the aerosol radiative effect by using an aerosol–climate atmosphere-only model BCC_AGCM2.0.1_CUACE/Aero with prescribed sea surface temperature and sea ice cover, in combination with the aerosol emissions from the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) scenarios. We find that the global annual mean aerosol net cooling effect at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) will be enhanced by 0.12 W m<sup>−2</sup> compared with recent past year 2000 levels if the emissions of only BC are reduced to the level projected for 2100 based on the RCP2.6 scenario. This will be beneficial~for the mitigation of global warming. However, both aerosol negative direct and indirect radiative effects are weakened when BC and its co-emitted species (sulfur dioxide and organic carbon) are simultaneously reduced. Relative to year 2000 levels, the global annual mean aerosol net cooling effect at the TOA will be weakened by 1.7–2.0 W m<sup>−2</sup> if the emissions of all these aerosols are decreased to the levels projected for 2100 in different ways based on the RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 scenarios. Because there are no effective ways to remove the BC exclusively without influencing the other co-emitted components, our results therefore indicate that a reduction in BC emission can lead to an unexpected warming on the Earth's climate system in the future.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/15/3671/2015/acp-15-3671-2015.pdf |
| spellingShingle | Z. L. Wang H. Zhang X. Y. Zhang Simultaneous reductions in emissions of black carbon and co-emitted species will weaken the aerosol net cooling effect Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Simultaneous reductions in emissions of black carbon and co-emitted species will weaken the aerosol net cooling effect |
| title_full | Simultaneous reductions in emissions of black carbon and co-emitted species will weaken the aerosol net cooling effect |
| title_fullStr | Simultaneous reductions in emissions of black carbon and co-emitted species will weaken the aerosol net cooling effect |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simultaneous reductions in emissions of black carbon and co-emitted species will weaken the aerosol net cooling effect |
| title_short | Simultaneous reductions in emissions of black carbon and co-emitted species will weaken the aerosol net cooling effect |
| title_sort | simultaneous reductions in emissions of black carbon and co emitted species will weaken the aerosol net cooling effect |
| url | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/15/3671/2015/acp-15-3671-2015.pdf |
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