Litcius/Paper detail

Efficient Vertical Transport of Black Carbon in the Planetary Boundary Layer

Dantong Liu, Kang Hu, Delong Zhao, Shuo Ding, Yunfei Wu, Chang Zhou, Chenjie Yu, Ping Tian, Quan Liu, Kai Bi, Yangzhou Wu, Bo Hu, Dongsheng Ji, Shaofei Kong, Bin Ouyang, Hui He, Mengyu Huang, Deping Ding

2020Geophysical Research Letters50 citationsDOI

Abstract

Abstract Vertical distribution of black carbon (BC) determines the layer where its heating impacts exert. This study presents continuous and simultaneous measurements at surface and on a mountain site above the wintertime planetary boundary layer influenced by uplifted surface anthropogenic emissions. BC was observed efficiently transported upwards by daytime convective mixing. However, this vertical transport was less for other particulate masses. An about twofold higher BC mass fraction was thus present at mountain than surface, hereby a lowered single‐scattering albedo (SSA) by 0.06. This may be caused by the evaporative loss of condensed semivolatile materials, prevailing the secondary particulate formation, in a cleaner environment containing less precursors. The elevated BC mass corresponded with the most intensive solar radiation at midday, wielding more heating impacts over the planetary boundary layer (PBL). This phenomenon may apply to other remote regions where a reduced SSA will introduce more positive radiative effects.

Topics & Concepts

Atmospheric sciencesAlbedo (alchemy)Radiative transferCarbon blackBoundary layerEnvironmental scienceConvectionPlanetary boundary layerParticulatesDaytimeCarbon fibersSurface layerGeologyMeteorologyLayer (electronics)PhysicsChemistryMechanicsMaterials scienceOpticsOrganic chemistryArtArt historyComposite numberPerformance artNatural rubberComposite materialAtmospheric chemistry and aerosolsAir Quality and Health ImpactsAtmospheric Ozone and Climate