Black Carbon: The Dark Horse in the Climate System A Research Focus of the NOAA ESRL Chemical Sciences Division
Mo va on: An Op on for Non-CO2 Climate Mi ga on and Air Quality Benefits • Black carbon—the major component of “soot”—is a byproduct of burning fossil fuels, and also is released by the burning of biomass (e.g., wildfires, cookstoves). • Black carbon has a short residence me in the atmosphere (and is a short-lived climate pollutant, SLCP). Measures to reduce black carbon could bring rapid relief for both climate and air quality. Black Carbon Affects Climate. Black carbon par cles absorb sunlight. This contributes to climate warming, accelerates mel ng when the par cles fall on snow or ice, and suppresses the forma on of clouds. Black carbon is the second largest climate forcer a er CO2 (see figure below). Black Carbon Affects Air Quality. Black carbon is a component of fine-par cle pollu on, called PM2.5, which is associated with adverse health effects and impaired visibility.
What Informa on is Needed COOLING I WARMING on Black Carbon? CO2 • Iden fy and quan fy emission sources CH N O Halocarbons • Determine proper es, transport, and Other well-mixed greenhouse gases 4 2 transforma ons in the atmosphere Mineral dust Sulfate Nitrate Organic carbon Black carbon Aerosol-radiation interactions • Determine effects on climate—in the air; deposited on surfaces(snow, ice); effects on Aerosol-cloud interactions cloud forma on and persistence TOTAL ANTHROPOGENIC
Why NOAA, and Why CSD? -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 • Exper se in state-of-the-art measurements Radiative Forcing (watts per square meter) ! History of studying air quality and climate together, needed for advancing black carbon The warming effects of black carbon offsets much of the cooling effect of other atmospheric par cles. science and understanding ! Exper se in laboratory, modeling and In 2012, CSD helped to lead the first scien fic assessment measurements needed for comprehensive of black carbon, which provided decision makers with key picture informa on needed for effec ve decisions. Expected Payoffs • Improved understanding of black carbon emissions and chemistry • Quan ta ve assessments of the implica ons of black carbon for climate, air quality, and public health • Reduced uncertainty in climate models, and increased confidence in model projec ons • Informa on for decisions related to climate mi ga on and air quality improvement CSD11 Contact: Mackenzie Tepel, NOAA Office of Legisla ve and Intergovernmental Affairs, 202-482-2497, [email protected]