Black carbon vertical profiles strongly affect its radiative forcing uncertainty

B. H. Samset; G. Myhre; M. Schulz; Y. Balkanski; S. Bauer; T. K. Berntsen; H. Bian; N. Bellouin; T. Diehl; R. C. Easter; S. J. Ghan; T. Iversen; S. Kinne; A. Kirkeväg; J. F. Lamarque; G. Lin; X. Liu; J. E. Penner; O. Seland; R. B. Skeie; P. Stier; T. Takemura; K. Tsigaridis; K. Zhang

doi:10.5194/acp-13-2423-2013

Black carbon vertical profiles strongly affect its radiative forcing uncertainty

B. H. Samset, G. Myhre, M. Schulz, Y. Balkanski, S. Bauer, T. K. Berntsen, H. Bian, N. Bellouin, T. Diehl, R. C. Easter, S. J. Ghan, T. Iversen, S. Kinne, A. Kirkeväg, J. F. Lamarque, G. Lin, X. Liu, J. E. Penner, O. Seland, R. B. SkeieP. Stier, T. Takemura, K. Tsigaridis, K. Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

187 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2423-2434
Number of pages	12
Journal	Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Volume	13
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-2423-2013
Publication status	Published - 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Atmospheric Science

Access to Document

10.5194/acp-13-2423-2013

Cite this

Samset, B. H., Myhre, G., Schulz, M., Balkanski, Y., Bauer, S., Berntsen, T. K., Bian, H., Bellouin, N., Diehl, T., Easter, R. C., Ghan, S. J., Iversen, T., Kinne, S., Kirkeväg, A., Lamarque, J. F., Lin, G., Liu, X., Penner, J. E., Seland, O., ... Zhang, K. (2013). Black carbon vertical profiles strongly affect its radiative forcing uncertainty. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 13(5), 2423-2434. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-2423-2013

Samset, BH, Myhre, G, Schulz, M, Balkanski, Y, Bauer, S, Berntsen, TK, Bian, H, Bellouin, N, Diehl, T, Easter, RC, Ghan, SJ, Iversen, T, Kinne, S, Kirkeväg, A, Lamarque, JF, Lin, G, Liu, X, Penner, JE, Seland, O, Skeie, RB, Stier, P, Takemura, T, Tsigaridis, K & Zhang, K 2013, 'Black carbon vertical profiles strongly affect its radiative forcing uncertainty', Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 2423-2434. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-2423-2013

@article{f82537b60c5e49b19ed342a770be2b48,

title = "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.",

author = "Samset, {B. H.} and G. Myhre and M. Schulz and Y. Balkanski and S. Bauer and Berntsen, {T. K.} and H. Bian and N. Bellouin and T. Diehl and Easter, {R. C.} and Ghan, {S. J.} and T. Iversen and S. Kinne and A. Kirkev{\"a}g and Lamarque, {J. F.} and G. Lin and X. Liu and Penner, {J. E.} and O. Seland and Skeie, {R. B.} and P. Stier and T. Takemura and K. Tsigaridis and K. Zhang",

year = "2013",

doi = "10.5194/acp-13-2423-2013",

language = "English",

volume = "13",

pages = "2423--2434",

journal = "Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics",

issn = "1680-7316",

publisher = "European Geosciences Union",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Black carbon vertical profiles strongly affect its radiative forcing uncertainty

AU - Samset, B. H.

AU - Myhre, G.

AU - Schulz, M.

AU - Balkanski, Y.

AU - Bauer, S.

AU - Berntsen, T. K.

AU - Bian, H.

AU - Bellouin, N.

AU - Diehl, T.

AU - Easter, R. C.

AU - Ghan, S. J.

AU - Iversen, T.

AU - Kinne, S.

AU - Kirkeväg, A.

AU - Lamarque, J. F.

AU - Lin, G.

AU - Liu, X.

AU - Penner, J. E.

AU - Seland, O.

AU - Skeie, R. B.

AU - Stier, P.

AU - Takemura, T.

AU - Tsigaridis, K.

AU - Zhang, K.

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84874518121&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84874518121&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.5194/acp-13-2423-2013

DO - 10.5194/acp-13-2423-2013

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84874518121

SN - 1680-7316

VL - 13

SP - 2423

EP - 2434

JO - Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

JF - Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

IS - 5

ER -

Black carbon vertical profiles strongly affect its radiative forcing uncertainty

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this