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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
earth and planetary sciences
Rapid changes in biomass burning aerosols by atmospheric oxidation
Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 41, No. 7, Year 2014
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Description
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. Key Points A large number of biomass burning plumes were observed in southern Africa Cloud activating and optical properties change rapidly during plume transport The changes in climatically relevant properties depend on atmospheric oxidation © 2014 the Authors.
Authors & Co-Authors
Vakkari, Ville
Finland, Helsinki
Helsingin Yliopisto
Finland, Helsinki
Finnish Meteorological Institute
Kerminen, Veli Matti
Finland, Helsinki
Helsingin Yliopisto
Beukes, Johan Paul
South Africa, Potchefstroom
North-west University
Tiitta, Petri T.
South Africa, Potchefstroom
North-west University
Finland, Kuopio
Itä-suomen Yliopisto
van Zyl, Pieter Gideon
South Africa, Potchefstroom
North-west University
Josipovic, Miroslav
South Africa, Potchefstroom
North-west University
Venter, Andrew Derick
South Africa, Potchefstroom
North-west University
Jaars, Kerneels
South Africa, Potchefstroom
North-west University
Worsnop, Douglas R.
Finland, Helsinki
Helsingin Yliopisto
United States, Billerica
Aerodyne Research, Inc.
Kulmala, Markku
Finland, Helsinki
Helsingin Yliopisto
Laakso, Lauri
Finland, Helsinki
Finnish Meteorological Institute
South Africa, Potchefstroom
North-west University
Statistics
Citations: 193
Authors: 11
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1002/2014GL059396
ISSN:
00948276
e-ISSN:
19448007
Research Areas
Environmental