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| Titel |
Origin and radiative forcing of black carbon transported to the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau |
| VerfasserIn |
M. Kopacz, D. L. Mauzerall, J. Wang, E. M. Leibensperger, D. K. Henze, K. Singh |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
1680-7316
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ; 11, no. 6 ; Nr. 11, no. 6 (2011-03-25), S.2837-2852 |
| Datensatznummer |
250009524
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/acp-11-2837-2011.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| The remote and high elevation regions of central Asia are influenced by
black carbon (BC) emissions from a variety of locations. BC deposition
contributes to melting of glaciers and questions exist, of both scientific
and policy interest, as to the origin of the BC reaching the glaciers. We
use the adjoint of the GEOS-Chem model to identify the location from which
BC arriving at a variety of locations in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau
originates. We then calculate its direct and snow-albedo radiative forcing.
We analyze the seasonal variation in the origin of BC using an adjoint
sensitivity analysis, which provides a detailed map of the location of
emissions that directly contribute to black carbon concentrations at
receptor locations. We find that emissions from northern India and central
China contribute the majority of BC to the Himalayas, although the precise
location varies with season. The Tibetan Plateau receives most BC from
western and central China, as well as from India, Nepal, the Middle East,
Pakistan and other countries. The magnitude of contribution from each region
varies with season and receptor location. We find that sources as varied as
African biomass burning and Middle Eastern fossil fuel combustion can
significantly contribute to the BC reaching the Himalayas and Tibetan
Plateau. We compute radiative forcing in the snow-covered regions and find
the forcing due to the BC induced snow-albedo effect to vary from 5–15 W m−2 within the region, an order of magnitude larger than radiative
forcing due to the direct effect, and with significant seasonal variation in
the northern Tibetan Plateau. Radiative forcing from reduced snow albedo
likely accelerates glacier melting. Our analysis may help inform mitigation
efforts to slow the rate of glacial melt by identifying regions that make
the largest contributions to BC deposition in the Himalayas and Tibetan
Plateau. |
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