Soot superaggregates from flaming wildfires and their direct radiative forcing
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2014
Abstract
Wildfires contribute significantly to global soot emissions, yet their aerosol formation mechanisms and resulting particle properties are poorly understood and parameterized in climate models. The conventional view holds that soot is formed via the cluster-dilute aggregation mechanism in wildfires and emitted as aggregates with fractal dimensionD f ≈1.8 mobility diameterD m ≤1 μm, and aerodynamic diameterD a ≤ 300 nm. Here we report the ubiquitous presence of soot superaggregates (SAs) in the outflow from a major wildfire in India. SAs are porous, low-density aggregates of cluster-dilute aggregates with characteristic D f ≈ 2.6,D m .> 1 μm, andD a ≤300 nmthat form via the cluster-dense aggregation mechanism.Wepresent additional observations of soot SAs in wildfire smoke-laden air masses over Northern California, New Mexico, and Mexico City. We estimate that SAs contribute, per unit optical depth, up to 35% less atmospheric warming than freshly-emitted (D f ≈ 1.8) aggregates, and ≈90% more warming than the volume-equivalent spherical soot particles simulated in climate models.
Publication Title
Scientific Reports
Recommended Citation
Chakrabarty, R.,
Beres, N.,
Moosmüller, H.,
China, S.,
Mazzoleni, C.,
Dubey, M.,
Liu, L.,
&
Mishchenko, M.
(2014).
Soot superaggregates from flaming wildfires and their direct radiative forcing.
Scientific Reports,
4.
http://doi.org/10.1038/srep05508
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/8458