Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2086
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2086
26 Jul 2024
 | 26 Jul 2024

Characterization of Brown Carbon absorption in different European environments through source contribution analysis

Hector Navarro-Barboza, Jordi Rovira, Vincenzo Obiso, Andrea Pozzer, Marta Via, Andres Alastuey, Xavier Querol, Noemi Perez, Marjan Savadkoohi, Gang Chen, Jesus Yus-Díez, Matic Ivancic, Martin Rigler, Konstantinos Eleftheriadis, Stergios Vratolis, Olga Zografou, Maria Gini, Benjamin Chazeau, Nicolas Marchand, Andre Prevot, Kaspar Dallenbach, Mikael Ehn, Krista Luoma, Tuukka Petäjä, Anna Tobler, Jaroslaw Necki, Minna Aurela, Hilkka Timonen, Jarkko Niemi, Olivier Favez, Jean-Eudes Petit, Jean-Philippe Putaud, Christoph Hueglin, Nicolas Pascal, Aurelien Chauvigné, Sebastien Conil, Marco Pandolfi, and Oriol Jorba

Abstract. Brown carbon (BrC) is a fraction of Organic Aerosols (OA) that absorbs radiation in the ultraviolet and short visible wavelengths. Its contribution to radiative forcing is uncertain due to limited knowledge of its imaginary refractive index (k ). This study investigates the variability of k for OA from wildfires, residential, shipping, and traffic emission sources over Europe. The MONARCH atmospheric chemistry model simulated OA concentrations and source contributions, feeding an offline optical tool to constrain k values at 370 nm. The model was evaluated against OA mass concentrations from Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitors (ACSM) and filter sample measurements, and aerosol light absorption measurements at 370 nm derived from AethalometerTM from 12 sites across Europe. Results show that MONARCH captures the OA temporal variability across environments (regional, suburban and urban background). Residential emissions are a major OA source in colder months, while secondary organic aerosols (SOA) dominate in warmer periods. Traffic is a minor primary OA contributor. Biomass and coal combustion significantly influence OA absorption, with shipping emissions also notable near harbors. Optimizing k values at 370 nm revealed significant variability in OA light absorption, influenced by emission sources and environmental conditions. Derived k values for biomass burning (0.03 to 0.13), residential (0.008 to 0.13), shipping (0.005 to 0.08), and traffic (0.005 to 0.07) sources improved model representation of OA absorption compared to a constant k. Introducing such emission source-specific constraints is an innovative approach to enhance OA absorption in atmospheric models.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Hector Navarro-Barboza, Jordi Rovira, Vincenzo Obiso, Andrea Pozzer, Marta Via, Andres Alastuey, Xavier Querol, Noemi Perez, Marjan Savadkoohi, Gang Chen, Jesus Yus-Díez, Matic Ivancic, Martin Rigler, Konstantinos Eleftheriadis, Stergios Vratolis, Olga Zografou, Maria Gini, Benjamin Chazeau, Nicolas Marchand, Andre Prevot, Kaspar Dallenbach, Mikael Ehn, Krista Luoma, Tuukka Petäjä, Anna Tobler, Jaroslaw Necki, Minna Aurela, Hilkka Timonen, Jarkko Niemi, Olivier Favez, Jean-Eudes Petit, Jean-Philippe Putaud, Christoph Hueglin, Nicolas Pascal, Aurelien Chauvigné, Sebastien Conil, Marco Pandolfi, and Oriol Jorba

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2086', Ye Kuang, 27 Jul 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on CC1', Hector Navarro-Barboza, 29 Jul 2024
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2086', Anonymous Referee #1, 06 Sep 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2086', Anonymous Referee #2, 11 Sep 2024
Hector Navarro-Barboza, Jordi Rovira, Vincenzo Obiso, Andrea Pozzer, Marta Via, Andres Alastuey, Xavier Querol, Noemi Perez, Marjan Savadkoohi, Gang Chen, Jesus Yus-Díez, Matic Ivancic, Martin Rigler, Konstantinos Eleftheriadis, Stergios Vratolis, Olga Zografou, Maria Gini, Benjamin Chazeau, Nicolas Marchand, Andre Prevot, Kaspar Dallenbach, Mikael Ehn, Krista Luoma, Tuukka Petäjä, Anna Tobler, Jaroslaw Necki, Minna Aurela, Hilkka Timonen, Jarkko Niemi, Olivier Favez, Jean-Eudes Petit, Jean-Philippe Putaud, Christoph Hueglin, Nicolas Pascal, Aurelien Chauvigné, Sebastien Conil, Marco Pandolfi, and Oriol Jorba
Hector Navarro-Barboza, Jordi Rovira, Vincenzo Obiso, Andrea Pozzer, Marta Via, Andres Alastuey, Xavier Querol, Noemi Perez, Marjan Savadkoohi, Gang Chen, Jesus Yus-Díez, Matic Ivancic, Martin Rigler, Konstantinos Eleftheriadis, Stergios Vratolis, Olga Zografou, Maria Gini, Benjamin Chazeau, Nicolas Marchand, Andre Prevot, Kaspar Dallenbach, Mikael Ehn, Krista Luoma, Tuukka Petäjä, Anna Tobler, Jaroslaw Necki, Minna Aurela, Hilkka Timonen, Jarkko Niemi, Olivier Favez, Jean-Eudes Petit, Jean-Philippe Putaud, Christoph Hueglin, Nicolas Pascal, Aurelien Chauvigné, Sebastien Conil, Marco Pandolfi, and Oriol Jorba

Viewed

Total article views: 849 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
584 192 73 849 74 10 11
  • HTML: 584
  • PDF: 192
  • XML: 73
  • Total: 849
  • Supplement: 74
  • BibTeX: 10
  • EndNote: 11
Views and downloads (calculated since 26 Jul 2024)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 26 Jul 2024)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 868 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 868 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 08 Dec 2024
Download
Short summary
Brown carbon (BrC) absorbs UV and visible light, affecting climate. Our study investigates BrC's imaginary refractive index (k ) using data from 12 European sites. Residential emissions are a major OA source in winter, while secondary organic aerosols (SOA) dominate in summer. We derived source-specific k values, enhancing model accuracy. This research improves understanding of BrC's climate role, emphasizing the need for source-specific constraints in atmospheric models.