Direct Radiative Forcing of Black Carbon Aerosols and Tropical Convective Precipitation

Conference Proceedings Paper
Direct Radiative Forcing of Black Carbon Aerosols and Tropical Convective Precipitation
Wang, C. (2006)
EOS Transactions, 87(52), Abstract A34C-04

Abstract/Summary:

Black carbon aerosol is a strong absorber of solar radiation in the atmosphere. This characteristic of BC leads to a direct radiative heating of the atmosphere and a strong cooling at the Earth's surface particularly over the land. Previous modeling studies suggest that BC aerosols are able to force a significant change in tropical convective precipitation ranging from the Pacific and Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, represented by an enhancement in the north portion and a reduction in the south portion of the ITCZ (e.g., Wang, 2004; Roberts and Jones, 2004; Chung and Seinfeld, 2005). This change occurs often well away from emission centers and is thus hypothesized as a subsequence of forced changes in the large-scale circulation by BC radiative forcing. The detailed forcing mechanism of above impact, summarized based on multiple long-term model runs using an interactive aerosol-climate model driven by various BC emissions scenarios, will be discussed.

Citation:

Wang, C. (2006): Direct Radiative Forcing of Black Carbon Aerosols and Tropical Convective Precipitation. EOS Transactions, 87(52), Abstract A34C-04 (http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm06/?content=program)
  • Conference Proceedings Paper
Direct Radiative Forcing of Black Carbon Aerosols and Tropical Convective Precipitation

Wang, C.

87(52), Abstract A34C-04

Abstract/Summary: 

Black carbon aerosol is a strong absorber of solar radiation in the atmosphere. This characteristic of BC leads to a direct radiative heating of the atmosphere and a strong cooling at the Earth's surface particularly over the land. Previous modeling studies suggest that BC aerosols are able to force a significant change in tropical convective precipitation ranging from the Pacific and Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, represented by an enhancement in the north portion and a reduction in the south portion of the ITCZ (e.g., Wang, 2004; Roberts and Jones, 2004; Chung and Seinfeld, 2005). This change occurs often well away from emission centers and is thus hypothesized as a subsequence of forced changes in the large-scale circulation by BC radiative forcing. The detailed forcing mechanism of above impact, summarized based on multiple long-term model runs using an interactive aerosol-climate model driven by various BC emissions scenarios, will be discussed.