Global brown carbon emissions from combustion sources

• Published in: Environmental science and ecotechnology Vol. 12; p. 100201
• Main Authors: Xiong, Rui, Li, Jin, Zhang, Yuanzheng, Zhang, Lu, Jiang, Ke, Zheng, Huang, Kong, Shaofei, Shen, Huizhong, Cheng, Hefa, Shen, Guofeng, Tao, Shu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.10.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Brown carbon; Emission inventory; Historical changes; Original Research; Spatial distribution; Emission inventory; Spatial distribution; Historical changes; Brown carbon
• ISSN: 2666-4984; 2096-9643; 2666-4984
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2022.100201

Light-absorbing organic carbon (OC), sometimes known as Brown Carbon (BrC), has been recognized as an important fraction of carbonaceous aerosols substantially affecting radiative forcing. This study firstly developed a bottom-up estimate of global primary BrC, and discussed its spatiotemporal distribution and source contributions from 1960 to 2010. The global total primary BrC emission from both natural and anthropogenic sources in 2010 was 7.26 (5.98–8.93 as an interquartile range) Tg, with 43.5% from anthropogenic sources. High primary BrC emissions were in regions such as Africa, South America, South and East Asia with natural sources (wild fires and deforestation) contributing over 70% in the former two regions, while in East Asia, anthropogenic sources, especially residential solid fuel combustion, accounted for over 80% of the regional total BrC emissions. Globally, the historical trend was mainly driven by anthropogenic sources, which increased from 1960 to 1990 and then started to decline. Residential emissions significantly impacted on emissions and temporal trends that varied by region. In South and Southeast Asia, the emissions increased obviously due to population growth and a slow transition from solid fuels to clean modern energies in the residential sector. It is estimated that in primary OC, the global average was about 20% BrC, but this ratio varied from 13% to 47%, depending on sector and region. In areas with high residential solid fuel combustion emissions, the ratio was generally twice the value in other areas. Uncertainties in the work are associated with the concept of BrC and measurement technologies, pointing to the need for more studies on BrC analysis and quantification in both emissions and the air. [Display omitted] •Estimation of mass fraction of light-absorption organic carbon in primary emissions.•Approximately 43.5% from anthropogenic sources.•High emissions from residential solid fuel combustion.•The global average mass fraction was about 20%.•More attentions on much higher uncertainties in such estimates.