Black Carbon Aerosols and Tropical Convective Precipitation

Conference Proceedings Paper
Black Carbon Aerosols and Tropical Convective Precipitation
Wang, C. (2006)
Eos Transactions, 87(36), Abstract H51A-06

Abstract/Summary:

Black carbon 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, demonstrating a "remote climate impact" of BC aerosols and suggesting that it is likely caused by forced changes in the large-scale circulation rather than local effect by BC radiative forcing. In order to investigate the detailed forcing mechanism of above impact, multiple 60-year runs using an interactive aerosol-climate model driven by various partitions of the global BC emissions have been carried out. It is found that the strength of the impact of BC aerosols emitted from a given source region on tropical rainfall is largely determined by the geographical location rather than total emission amount of that region. Interesting casual relations between BC forced tropical rainfall changes over different regions and BC emissions from various continents/major source regions will be discussed. Generally speaking, despite the differences in pattern and strength, the results of this study suggest that BC aerosols emitted from each of the major source regions can all cause an alternation to tropical convective rainfall, implying that cutting emissions from any region alone can not eliminate this climatic effect of BC aerosols.

Citation:

Wang, C. (2006): Black Carbon Aerosols and Tropical Convective Precipitation. Eos Transactions, 87(36), Abstract H51A-06 (http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm06/?content=program)
  • Conference Proceedings Paper
Black Carbon Aerosols and Tropical Convective Precipitation

Wang, C.

87(36), Abstract H51A-06

Abstract/Summary: 

Black carbon 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, demonstrating a "remote climate impact" of BC aerosols and suggesting that it is likely caused by forced changes in the large-scale circulation rather than local effect by BC radiative forcing. In order to investigate the detailed forcing mechanism of above impact, multiple 60-year runs using an interactive aerosol-climate model driven by various partitions of the global BC emissions have been carried out. It is found that the strength of the impact of BC aerosols emitted from a given source region on tropical rainfall is largely determined by the geographical location rather than total emission amount of that region. Interesting casual relations between BC forced tropical rainfall changes over different regions and BC emissions from various continents/major source regions will be discussed. Generally speaking, despite the differences in pattern and strength, the results of this study suggest that BC aerosols emitted from each of the major source regions can all cause an alternation to tropical convective rainfall, implying that cutting emissions from any region alone can not eliminate this climatic effect of BC aerosols.