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Using a global aerosol model adjoint to unravel the footprint of spatially‐distributed emissions on cloud droplet number and cloud albedo
Author(s) -
Karydis V. A.,
Capps S. L.,
Moore R. H.,
Russell A. G.,
Henze D. K.,
Nenes A.
Publication year - 2012
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 - 10.1029/2012gl053346
Subject(s) - aerosol , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , cloud computing , albedo (alchemy) , cloud albedo , chemical transport model , range (aeronautics) , meteorology , climatology , cloud cover , geography , physics , geology , materials science , art , performance art , computer science , art history , operating system , composite material
The adjoints of the GEOS‐Chem Chemical Transport Model and a comprehensive cloud droplet parameterization are coupled to study the sensitivity of cloud droplet number concentration ( N d ) over US regions and Central Europe to global emissions of anthropogenic fine mode aerosol precursors. Simulations reveal that the N d over the midwestern and southeastern US is mostly sensitive to SO 2 emissions during August, and to NH 3 emissions during February. Over the western US, N d is mostly sensitivity to SO 2 and primary organic aerosol emissions. In Central Europe, N d is most sensitive to NH 3 and NO x emissions. As expected, local emissions strongly affect N d ; long‐range transport, however, is also important for the western US and Europe. Emissions changes projected for the year 2050 are estimated to have the largest impacts on cloud albedo and N d over Central Europe during August (42% and 82% change, respectively) and western US during February (12% and 36.5% change, respectively).