Modelling optical properties of atmospheric black carbon aerosols
Reviewartikel, 2020

The optical properties of atmospheric black carbon (BC) aerosols are needed to model the direct radiative forcing of the climate system, as well as for interpreting and assimilating remote sensing observations from satellites. Modelling efforts during the past decade have predominantly been based on using morphologically highly realistic representations of the particle geometry in conjunction with numerically exact methods for solving the light-scattering problem. We review (i) the present state of knowledge about the morphological, dielectric, and compositional properties of BC aerosols, (ii) the state-of-the-art in numerical light-scattering methods frequently applied to black carbon, and (iii) the recent literature on modelling optical properties of BC aggregates, both bare and internally mixed with liquid-phase material. From this review we formulate some key lessons learned regarding those morphological properties that have a dominant impact on the optical properties. These morphological key features can form the basis for devising simplified model particles that can be used in large-scale applications. We illustrate this approach with one example appropriate for climate modelling, and one example relevant to the interpretation of lidar remote sensing data. © 2020

Brown carbon

Black carbon

Atmospheric optics

Aerosol

Författare

Michael Kahnert

SMHI

Chalmers, Rymd-, geo- och miljövetenskap, Mikrovågs- och optisk fjärranalys

Franz Kanngiesser

Chalmers, Rymd-, geo- och miljövetenskap, Mikrovågs- och optisk fjärranalys

Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer

0022-4073 (ISSN)

Vol. 244 106849

Ämneskategorier

Teknisk mekanik

Meteorologi och atmosfärforskning

Annan fysik

DOI

10.1016/j.jqsrt.2020.106849

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Senast uppdaterat

2021-02-09