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New Paper: Direct Observations Reveal BC Absorption Uncertainty
Our particle-level observations reveal multi-level microphysical complexity of black carbon. Numerical models further quantify the related radiative forcing uncertainy.
Our recent One Earth paper addresses the uncertainty of the warming effect of black carbon (BC) due to model-measurement gaps in light absorption enhancement. Here, our particle level observations reveal multi-level microphysical complexities in BC-containing particles, and these explain the lower observed BC absorption. In addition to coating heterogeneity and non-spherical shape, the off-center BC-core position is also an essential factor in the absorption gap. When considering the observation-based framework in the BC optics in NCAR CESM, BC’s global direct radiative forcing reduces by up to 23%.
