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Rapid changes in biomass burning aerosols by atmospheric oxidation
Author(s) -
Vakkari Ville,
Kerminen VeliMatti,
Beukes Johan Paul,
Tiitta Petri,
Zyl Pieter G.,
Josipovic Miroslav,
Venter Andrew D.,
Jaars Kerneels,
Worsnop Douglas R.,
Kulmala Markku,
Laakso Lauri
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2014gl059396
Subject(s) - aerosol , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , radiative forcing , cloud condensation nuclei , biomass burning , radiative transfer , single scattering albedo , forcing (mathematics) , climatology , meteorology , physics , geology , quantum mechanics
Primary and secondary aerosol particles originating from biomass burning contribute significantly to the atmospheric aerosol budget and thereby to both direct and indirect radiative forcing. Based on detailed measurements of a large number of biomass burning plumes of variable age in southern Africa, we show that the size distribution, chemical composition, single‐scattering albedo, and hygroscopicity of biomass burning particles change considerably during the first 2–4 h of their atmospheric transport. These changes, driven by atmospheric oxidation and subsequent secondary aerosol formation, may reach a factor of 6 for the aerosol scattering coefficient and a factor >10 for the cloud condensation nuclei concentration. Since the observed changes take place over the spatial and temporal scales that are neither covered by emission inventories nor captured by large‐scale model simulations, the findings reported here point out a significant gap in our understanding on the climatic effects of biomass burning aerosols.