Grantee Research Project Results

2013 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 , NESCAUM , 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, 2012 through July 31,2013
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: Continued tabulation of data for size-resolved emission inventory and produced global inventory for transportation sector. Regional modeling groups: Completed 1-year simulation of black carbon in the United States using CWRF-Chem; Global modeling and metrics group: Completed 3-year simulations of direct and climate cloud-related forcing by emissions from United States and found that linearity in emission is an adequate approximation. Communication group (CATF): Identified critical questions required to engage decisionmakers in discussions about short-lived climate forcers.

Future Activities:

Emission group: Complete database of additional sectors to describe size resolution; open public web interface with black and organic carbon emissions. Global modeling and metrics group: Continue linearity and additivity testing of direct and cloud-related forcing, and produce policy-relevant metrics. Regional modeling group: Conduct ensemble of simulations over continental USA to determine uncertainty in cloud-related forcing. Communication group: Conduct surveys on the topics of forcing immediacy, uncertainty and complexity with revised decisionmaker base.

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.