The role of highly oxygenated organic molecules in the Boreal aerosol-cloud-climate system

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Over Boreal regions, monoterpenes emitted from the forest are the main precursors for secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation and the primary driver of the growth of new aerosol particles to climatically important cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Autoxidation of monoterpenes leads to rapid formation of Highly Oxygenated organic Molecules (HOM). We have developed the first model with near-explicit representation of atmospheric new particle formation (NPF) and HOM formation. The model can reproduce the observed NPF, HOM gas-phase composition and SOA formation over the Boreal forest. During the spring, HOM SOA formation increases the CCN concentration by ~10 % and causes a direct aerosol radiative forcing of −0.10 W/m2. In contrast, NPF reduces the number of CCN at updraft velocities < 0.2 m/s, and causes a direct aerosol radiative forcing of +0.15 W/m2. Hence, while HOM SOA contributes to climate cooling, NPF can result in climate warming over the Boreal forest.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12338-8

Institutions: Lund University, University of Helsinki, Stockholm University, Aarhus University, University of Eastern Finland, University of Oulu, Aerodyne Research, University of Salzburg

Language: English

Topic: Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols

Subfield: Atmospheric Science

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $5,200

Funders: European Commission, Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas, Academy of Finland, Lunds Universitet, Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse, Vetenskapsrådet, China Scholarship Council, FP7 Ideas: European Research Council

Awards: G1691109235, The impact of the Continental Biosphere–Aerosol-Cloud-Climate feedback loop during the Anthropocene (CoBACCA), G2234190514, G2752106503, G2909972010, G417937992, G434337789, Quantifying the atmospheric implications of the solid phase and phase transitions of secondary organic aerosols, G4435591476, G4514809614, G5620874510, G5729379464, G5932104187, G712881263, G7477564657, G8189845832, Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace gases Research InfraStructure, G8421667192

OpenAlex ID: W2975724601