Grantee Research Project Results

2012 Progress Report: Linking Regional Aerosol Emission Changes with Multiple Impact Measures through Direct and Cloud-Related Forcing Estimates

EPA Grant Number: R835034
Title: Linking Regional Aerosol Emission Changes with Multiple Impact Measures through Direct and Cloud-Related Forcing Estimates
Investigators: Bond, Tami C. , Streets, David G. , Amar, Praveen , Liang, Xin-Zhong
Institution: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign , Clean Air Task Force , University of Maryland - College Park , Argonne National Laboratory
Current Institution: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign , Argonne National Laboratory , NESCAUM
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: August 1, 2011 through July 31, 2014 (Extended to July 31, 2016)
Project Period Covered by this Report: August 1, 2011 through July 31,2012
Project Amount: $899,773
RFA: Black Carbon's Role In Global To Local Scale Climate And Air Quality (2010) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air , Climate Change

Objective:

The objectives of this project are: (1) Develop size-resolved, speciated emission inventories of aerosols and aerosol precursors; (2) Use an ensemble of parameterizations in regional-scale models to identify best estimates and uncertainties for direct and cloud-related forcing; (3) Determine functional relationships that express changes in direct and cloud radiative forcing as a function of emission changes; and (4) Iterate emission-to-forcing measures as communication tools between decision makers and climate scientists.

Progress Summary:

Four teams are working on this project. Emission group: Developed a parameterization to represent fine-mode size resolution at emission, and collected a large database of references. Developed a web interface that will allow user queries. Metrics group: Prepared for metrics work that begins in Year 2 by reviewing published work on aerosol effects on liquid clouds, including but not limited to albedo effect. Modeling group: Initiated CWRF-Chem for simulating black carbon and other aerosol effects on direct forcing, clouds and radiation over the continental United States; evaluated modeled cloud impacts with measured data. Communication group (CATF): Surveyed 35 environmental professionals regarding how they communicate the science of black carbon and their needs for scientific support in communication.

Future Activities:

Emission group: Complete database to describe size resolution; open public web interface with black and organic carbon emissions; prepare updated emissions for modeling group. Metrics group: Test linearity of direct cloud response to regional emissions using a global model. Modeling group: Finalize simulations of black and organic carbon over continental USA, including selection of ensemble members that most closely reflect observed radiation fields. Communication group: Complete report describing surveys. Explore the use of metrics to communicate local impacts of black carbon.

Journal Articles on this Report : 2 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views
Other project views:	All 10 publications	4 publications in selected types	All 4 journal articles

Publications
Type	Citation	Project	Document Sources
Journal Article	Bond TC, Doherty SJ, Fahey DW, Forster PM, Berntsen T, DeAngelo BJ, Flanner MG, Ghan S, Karcher B, Koch D, Kinne S, Kondo Y, Quinn PK, Sarofim MC, Schultz MG, Schulz M, Venkataraman C, Zhang H, Zhang S, Bellouin N, Guttikunda SK, Hopke PK, Jacobson MZ, Kaiser JW, Klimont Z, Lohmann U, Schwarz JP, Shindell D, Storelvmo T, Warren SG, Zender CS. Bounding the role of black carbon in the climate system: a scientific assessment. Journal of Geophysical Research–Atmospheres 2013;118(11):5380-5552.	R835034 (2012) R835034 (2013) R835034 (Final)	Full-text: Wiley-Full Text PDF Exit Abstract: Wiley-Abstract and Full Text HTML Exit
Journal Article	Li J, von Salzen K, Peng Y, Zhang H, Liang X-Z. Evaluation of black carbon semi-direct radiative effect in a climate model. Journal of Geophysical Research–Atmospheres 2013;118(10):4715-4728.	R835034 (2012) R835034 (2013) R835034 (Final)	Full-text: Wiley-Full Text PDF Exit Abstract: Wiley-Abstract Exit

Supplemental Keywords:

emissions, size distribution, aerosol speciation, aerosols, clouds, radiative forcings, ambient air, regional air quality, regional climate; global climate;

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.