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Detailed Reference Information
Novakov et al. 2005
Novakov, T., Menon, S., Kirchstetter, T.W., Koch, D. and Hansen, J.E. (2005). Aerosol organic carbon to black carbon ratios: Analysis of published data and implications for climate forcing. Journal of Geophysical Research 110: doi: 10.1029/2005JD005977. issn: 0148-0227.

Measurements of organic carbon (OC) and black carbon (BC) concentrations over a variety of locations worldwide have been analyzed to infer the spatial distributions of the ratios of OC to BC. Since these ratios determine the relative amounts of scattering and absorption, they are often used to estimate the radiative forcing due to aerosols. An artifact in the protocol for filter measurements of OC has led to widespread overestimates of the ratio of OC to BC in atmospheric aerosols. We developed a criterion to correct for this artifact and analyze corrected OC to BC ratios. The OC to BC ratios, ranging from 1.3 to 2.4, appear relatively constant and are generally unaffected by seasonality, sources, or technology changes, at the locations considered here. The ratios compare well with emission inventories over Europe and China but are a factor of 2 lower in other regions. The reduced estimate for OC/BC in aerosols strengthens the argument that reduction of soot emissions maybe a useful approach to slow global warming.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Aerosols and particles (0345, 4801, 4906), Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Troposphere, composition and chemistry, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Middle atmosphere, composition and chemistry, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Pollution, urban and regional (0305, 0478, 4251), Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Radiation, transmission and scattering, organic aerosol, black carbon
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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