Brown carbon works both sides of the climate equation

The overambitious other carbon
PNNL's Aerosol Test Chamber used to study the aerosol lifecycle. The purple glow is generated by UV lights, simulating the sun. Data derived from experiments using the chamber are used for model validation and directly incorporated into climate models.

There is an atmospheric particle not satisfied with only a single role in the climate. The ambitious culprit? Brown carbon aerosol steps outside the box and acts to both warm and cool the climate. A brown secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is thought to be created when gases that are emitted from both natural and man-made sources are oxidized under certain environmental conditions. Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the University of Nevada at Reno studied the light absorbing and reflecting abilities of SOA formed from alpha-pinene (α-pinene), an important gas that gives off a piney smell and is naturally emitted from both coniferous and deciduous forests. The study is an important step in the continued search for evidence that these particles form from naturally occurring gases and increase dramatically in the presence of pollution from cities.

"We found that brown carbon SOA from α-pinene is formed when it is oxidized by nitrate radicals—formed from nitrogen dioxide and ozone—in the presence of highly acidic pre-existing aerosols and low relative humidity," said Dr. Rahul Zaveri, atmospheric scientist at PNNL and co-corresponding author of the study. "In addition, our study shows that α-pinene does not form brown SOA under the more typical ."

Soot and dust absorb light and tend to have a warming effect on the climate. Aerosol particles formed from sulfate, nitrate or sea salt scatter light and have a cooling effect. However, there is growing evidence of the presence of another class of light absorbing carbonaceous aerosols. Brown carbon aerosols, tiny suspended particles in Earth's atmosphere, can affect the climate by partially absorbing and reflecting the sun's energy. Identifying the specific gases that help form brown carbon SOA and understanding the physical and chemical conditions under which it forms will help provide a better representation of their radiative energy effects in climate models.

The research team produced SOA in an indoor environmental chamber reactor located at PNNL. They observed their particle mass and composition using a Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer. They monitored the particle's light absorption and scattering characteristics using photoacoustic spectrometers (PAS) at four different wavelengths. The PAS, which directly measure light absorption by suspended particles, have a large dynamic range for aerosol optical measurements. The researchers produced the SOA in the laboratory chamber under systematically varying conditions by oxidizing α-pinene with ozone and nitrate radicals in the presence and absence of acidic conditions, and at very low and moderate .

The research team will continue to explore brown carbon SOA formation from other species such as isoprene, which is another important gas that is naturally emitted from forests.

More information: Song C, M Gyawali, RA Zaveri, JE Shilling, and WP Arnott. 2013. "Light Absorption by Secondary Organic Aerosol from α-Pinene: Effects of Oxidants, Seed Aerosol Acidity, and Relative Humidity." Journal of Geophysical Research 118:1-9. DOI: 10.1002/jgrd.50767.

Journal information: Journal of Geophysical Research

Citation: Brown carbon works both sides of the climate equation (2014, February 4) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2014-02-brown-carbon-sides-climate-equation.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

A dance of aerosols: Study shows plant-sourced particles pick and choose their partners

0 shares

Feedback to editors