Characterization of brown carbon absorption in different European environments through source contribution analysis

<p>Brown carbon (BrC) is a fraction of organic aerosol (OA) that absorbs radiation in the ultraviolet and short visible wavelengths. Its contribution to radiative forcing is uncertain due to limited knowledge of its imaginary refractive index (<span class="inline-formula"><i...

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Main Authors: H. Navarro-Barboza, J. Rovira, V. Obiso, A. Pozzer, M. Via, A. Alastuey, X. Querol, N. Perez, M. Savadkoohi, G. Chen, J. Yus-Díez, M. Ivancic, M. Rigler, K. Eleftheriadis, S. Vratolis, O. Zografou, M. Gini, B. Chazeau, N. Marchand, A. S. H. Prevot, K. Dallenbach, M. Ehn, K. Luoma, T. Petäjä, A. Tobler, J. Necki, M. Aurela, H. Timonen, J. Niemi, O. Favez, J.-E. Petit, J.-P. Putaud, C. Hueglin, N. Pascal, A. Chauvigné, S. Conil, M. Pandolfi, O. Jorba
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Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2025-02-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/2667/2025/acp-25-2667-2025.pdf
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author H. Navarro-Barboza
J. Rovira
V. Obiso
A. Pozzer
A. Pozzer
M. Via
A. Alastuey
X. Querol
N. Perez
M. Savadkoohi
M. Savadkoohi
G. Chen
J. Yus-Díez
M. Ivancic
M. Rigler
K. Eleftheriadis
S. Vratolis
O. Zografou
M. Gini
B. Chazeau
B. Chazeau
N. Marchand
A. S. H. Prevot
K. Dallenbach
M. Ehn
K. Luoma
K. Luoma
T. Petäjä
A. Tobler
J. Necki
M. Aurela
H. Timonen
J. Niemi
O. Favez
J.-E. Petit
J.-P. Putaud
C. Hueglin
N. Pascal
A. Chauvigné
S. Conil
M. Pandolfi
O. Jorba
author_facet H. Navarro-Barboza
J. Rovira
V. Obiso
A. Pozzer
A. Pozzer
M. Via
A. Alastuey
X. Querol
N. Perez
M. Savadkoohi
M. Savadkoohi
G. Chen
J. Yus-Díez
M. Ivancic
M. Rigler
K. Eleftheriadis
S. Vratolis
O. Zografou
M. Gini
B. Chazeau
B. Chazeau
N. Marchand
A. S. H. Prevot
K. Dallenbach
M. Ehn
K. Luoma
K. Luoma
T. Petäjä
A. Tobler
J. Necki
M. Aurela
H. Timonen
J. Niemi
O. Favez
J.-E. Petit
J.-P. Putaud
C. Hueglin
N. Pascal
A. Chauvigné
S. Conil
M. Pandolfi
O. Jorba
author_sort H. Navarro-Barboza
collection DOAJ
description <p>Brown carbon (BrC) is a fraction of organic aerosol (OA) that absorbs radiation in the ultraviolet and short visible wavelengths. Its contribution to radiative forcing is uncertain due to limited knowledge of its imaginary refractive index (<span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i></span>). This study investigates the variability of <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i></span> for OA from wildfires, residential, shipping, and traffic emission sources over Europe. The Multiscale Online Nonhydrostatic Atmosphere Chemistry (MONARCH) model simulated OA concentrations and source contributions, feeding an offline optical tool to constrain <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i></span> values at 370 nm. The model was evaluated against OA mass concentrations from aerosol chemical speciation monitors (ACSMs) and filter sample measurements, as well as aerosol light absorption measurements at 370 nm derived from an Aethalometer™ from 12 sites across Europe. Results show that MONARCH captures the OA temporal variability across environments (regional, suburban, and urban background). Residential emissions are a major OA source in colder months, while secondary organic aerosol (SOA) dominates in warmer periods. Traffic is a minor primary OA contributor. Biomass and coal combustion significantly influence OA absorption, with shipping emissions also notable near harbors. Optimizing <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i></span> values at 370 nm revealed significant variability in OA light absorption, influenced by emission sources and environmental conditions. Derived <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i></span> values for biomass burning (0.03 to 0.13), residential (0.008 to 0.13), shipping (0.005 to 0.08), and traffic (0.005 to 0.07) sources improved model representation of OA absorption compared to a constant <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i></span>. Introducing such emission source-specific constraints is an innovative approach to enhance OA absorption in atmospheric models.</p>
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spelling doaj-art-e86165db8d754e3683c5f5c20bb5d59b2025-08-20T03:04:45ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242025-02-01252667269410.5194/acp-25-2667-2025Characterization of brown carbon absorption in different European environments through source contribution analysisH. Navarro-Barboza0J. Rovira1V. Obiso2A. Pozzer3A. Pozzer4M. Via5A. Alastuey6X. Querol7N. Perez8M. Savadkoohi9M. Savadkoohi10G. Chen11J. Yus-Díez12M. Ivancic13M. Rigler14K. Eleftheriadis15S. Vratolis16O. Zografou17M. Gini18B. Chazeau19B. Chazeau20N. Marchand21A. S. H. Prevot22K. Dallenbach23M. Ehn24K. Luoma25K. Luoma26T. Petäjä27A. Tobler28J. Necki29M. Aurela30H. Timonen31J. Niemi32O. Favez33J.-E. Petit34J.-P. Putaud35C. Hueglin36N. Pascal37A. Chauvigné38S. Conil39M. Pandolfi40O. Jorba41Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Plaça Eusebi Güell 1-3, Barcelona, 08034, SpainInstitute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, c/Jordi-Girona 18-26, Barcelona, 08034, SpainBarcelona Supercomputing Center, Plaça Eusebi Güell 1-3, Barcelona, 08034, SpainAtmospheric Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, GermanyClimate and Atmosphere Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, CyprusInstitute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, c/Jordi-Girona 18-26, Barcelona, 08034, SpainInstitute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, c/Jordi-Girona 18-26, Barcelona, 08034, SpainInstitute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, c/Jordi-Girona 18-26, Barcelona, 08034, SpainInstitute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, c/Jordi-Girona 18-26, Barcelona, 08034, SpainInstitute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, c/Jordi-Girona 18-26, Barcelona, 08034, SpainDepartment of Mining, Industrial and ICT Engineering (EMIT), Manresa School of Engineering (EPSEM), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Manresa, 08242, SpainMRC Centre for Environ. and Health, Environ. Research Group, Imperial College London, London, UKCentre for Atmospheric Research, University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska 11c, 5270 Ajdovščina, SloveniaAerosol d.o.o., Kamniška 39A, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaAerosol d.o.o., Kamniška 39A, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaENRACT, Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, National Centre of Scientific Research “Demokritos”, 15310 Ag. Paraskevi, Attica, GreeceENRACT, Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, National Centre of Scientific Research “Demokritos”, 15310 Ag. Paraskevi, Attica, GreeceENRACT, Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, National Centre of Scientific Research “Demokritos”, 15310 Ag. Paraskevi, Attica, GreeceENRACT, Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, National Centre of Scientific Research “Demokritos”, 15310 Ag. Paraskevi, Attica, GreecePaul Scherrer Institute, PSI Center for Energy and Environmental Sciences, Würenlingen, SwitzerlandAix Marseille Univ, CNRS, LCE, Marseille, FrancePaul Scherrer Institute, PSI Center for Energy and Environmental Sciences, Würenlingen, SwitzerlandPaul Scherrer Institute, PSI Center for Energy and Environmental Sciences, Würenlingen, SwitzerlandPaul Scherrer Institute, PSI Center for Energy and Environmental Sciences, Würenlingen, SwitzerlandInstitute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, FinlandInstitute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, FinlandAtmospheric Research Centre of Eastern Finland, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Kuopio, FinlandInstitute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, FinlandDatalystica Ltd., Parkstrasse 1, 5234 Villigen, SwitzerlandDepartment of Applied Nuclear Physics, Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, Krakow, PolandAtmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, P.O. Box 503, 00101 Helsinki, FinlandAtmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, P.O. Box 503, 00101 Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Applied Nuclear Physics, Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, Krakow, PolandInstitut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques, Parc Technologique ALATA, Verneuil-en-Halatte, FranceLaboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, CEA CNRS UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, FranceEuropean Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, ItalyEmpa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 8600 Duebendorf, SwitzerlandUniversité de Lille, AERIS/ICAREData and Services Center, CNRS, CNES, UMS 2877, Villeneuve d'Ascq, FranceUniversité de Lille, AERIS/ICAREData and Services Center, CNRS, CNES, UMS 2877, Villeneuve d'Ascq, FranceANDRA DRD/GES Observatoire Pérenne de l'Environnement, 55290 Bure, FranceInstitute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, c/Jordi-Girona 18-26, Barcelona, 08034, SpainBarcelona Supercomputing Center, Plaça Eusebi Güell 1-3, Barcelona, 08034, Spain<p>Brown carbon (BrC) is a fraction of organic aerosol (OA) that absorbs radiation in the ultraviolet and short visible wavelengths. Its contribution to radiative forcing is uncertain due to limited knowledge of its imaginary refractive index (<span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i></span>). This study investigates the variability of <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i></span> for OA from wildfires, residential, shipping, and traffic emission sources over Europe. The Multiscale Online Nonhydrostatic Atmosphere Chemistry (MONARCH) model simulated OA concentrations and source contributions, feeding an offline optical tool to constrain <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i></span> values at 370 nm. The model was evaluated against OA mass concentrations from aerosol chemical speciation monitors (ACSMs) and filter sample measurements, as well as aerosol light absorption measurements at 370 nm derived from an Aethalometer™ from 12 sites across Europe. Results show that MONARCH captures the OA temporal variability across environments (regional, suburban, and urban background). Residential emissions are a major OA source in colder months, while secondary organic aerosol (SOA) dominates in warmer periods. Traffic is a minor primary OA contributor. Biomass and coal combustion significantly influence OA absorption, with shipping emissions also notable near harbors. Optimizing <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i></span> values at 370 nm revealed significant variability in OA light absorption, influenced by emission sources and environmental conditions. Derived <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i></span> values for biomass burning (0.03 to 0.13), residential (0.008 to 0.13), shipping (0.005 to 0.08), and traffic (0.005 to 0.07) sources improved model representation of OA absorption compared to a constant <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i></span>. Introducing such emission source-specific constraints is an innovative approach to enhance OA absorption in atmospheric models.</p>https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/2667/2025/acp-25-2667-2025.pdf
spellingShingle H. Navarro-Barboza
J. Rovira
V. Obiso
A. Pozzer
A. Pozzer
M. Via
A. Alastuey
X. Querol
N. Perez
M. Savadkoohi
M. Savadkoohi
G. Chen
J. Yus-Díez
M. Ivancic
M. Rigler
K. Eleftheriadis
S. Vratolis
O. Zografou
M. Gini
B. Chazeau
B. Chazeau
N. Marchand
A. S. H. Prevot
K. Dallenbach
M. Ehn
K. Luoma
K. Luoma
T. Petäjä
A. Tobler
J. Necki
M. Aurela
H. Timonen
J. Niemi
O. Favez
J.-E. Petit
J.-P. Putaud
C. Hueglin
N. Pascal
A. Chauvigné
S. Conil
M. Pandolfi
O. Jorba
Characterization of brown carbon absorption in different European environments through source contribution analysis
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title Characterization of brown carbon absorption in different European environments through source contribution analysis
title_full Characterization of brown carbon absorption in different European environments through source contribution analysis
title_fullStr Characterization of brown carbon absorption in different European environments through source contribution analysis
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of brown carbon absorption in different European environments through source contribution analysis
title_short Characterization of brown carbon absorption in different European environments through source contribution analysis
title_sort characterization of brown carbon absorption in different european environments through source contribution analysis
url https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/2667/2025/acp-25-2667-2025.pdf
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