Threefold reduction of modeled uncertainty in direct radiative effects over biomass burning regions by constraining absorbing aerosols.

ABSTRACT: Absorbing aerosols emitted from biomass burning (BB) greatly affect the radiation balance, cloudiness, and circulation over tropical regions. Assessments of these impacts rely heavily on the modeled aerosol absorption from poorly constrained global models and thus exhibit large uncertainties. By combining the AeroCom model ensemble with satellite and in situ observations, we provide constraints on the aerosol absorption optical depth (AAOD) over the Amazon and Africa. Our approach enables identification of error contributions from emission, lifetime, and MAC (mass absorption coefficient) per model, with MAC and emission dominating the AAOD errors over Amazon and Africa, respectively. In addition to primary emissions, our analysis suggests substantial formation of secondary organic aerosols

SUBMITTER: Zhong Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10691779 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature