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Title:Optical properties and simple forcing efficiency of the organic aerosols and black carbon emitted by residential wood burning in rural Central Europe
Authors:ID Cuesta-Mosquera, Andrea (Author)
ID Glojek, Kristina (Author)
ID Močnik, Griša (Author)
ID Drinovec, Luka (Author)
ID Gregorič, Asta (Author)
ID Rigler, Martin (Author)
ID Ogrin, Matej (Author)
ID Romshoo, Baseerat (Author)
ID Weinhold, Kay (Author)
ID Merkel, Maik (Author)
Files:.pdf egusphere-2023-1874.pdf (1,99 MB)
MD5: 16E015F2971D890F220C28FAFFC1FE77
 
URL https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2023/egusphere-2023-1874/
 
.pdf egusphere-2023-1874_(1).pdf (1,99 MB)
MD5: 16E015F2971D890F220C28FAFFC1FE77
 
Language:English
Work type:Unknown
Typology:1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:UNG - University of Nova Gorica
Abstract:Abstract. Recent years have seen an increase in the use of wood for energy production of over 30 %, and this trend is expected to continue due to the current energy crisis and geopolitical instability. At present, residential wood burning (RWB) is one of the most important sources of organic aerosols (OA) and black carbon (BC). While BC is recognized for its large light absorption cross-section, the role of OA in light absorption is still under evaluation due to their heterogeneous composition and source-dependent optical properties. Studies that characterize wood-burning aerosol emissions in Europe typically focus on urban and background sites and only cover BC properties. However, RWB is more prevalent in rural areas, and the present scenario indicates that an improved understanding of the RWB aerosol optical properties and their subsequent connection to climate impacts is necessary for rural areas. We have characterized atmospheric aerosol particles from a central European rural site during wintertime in the village of Retje in Loški Potok, Slovenia, from 01.12.2017 to 07.03.2018. The village experienced extremely high aerosol concentrations produced by RWB and near-ground temperature inversion. The isolated location of the site and the substantial local emissions made it an ideal laboratory-like place for characterizing RWB aerosols with low influence from non-RWB sources under ambient conditions. The mean mass concentrations of OA and BC were 34.8 µg m-3 (max = 271.8 µg m-3) and 3.1 µg m-3 (max = 24.3 µg m-3), respectively. The mean total particle number concentration (10–600 nm) was 9.9 x 103 particles cm-3 (max = 53.5 x 103 particles cm-3). The mean total light absorption coefficient at 370 nm and 880 nm measured by an Aethalometer AE33 were 122.8 Mm-1 and 15.3 Mm-1 and had maximum values of 1103.9 Mm-1 and 179.1 Mm-1, respectively. The aerosol concentrations and absorption coefficients measured during the campaign in Loški Potok were significantly larger than those reported values for several urban areas in the region with larger populations and extent of aerosol sources. Here, considerable contributions from brown carbon (BrC) to the total light absorption were identified, reaching up to 60 % and 48 % in the near UV (370 nm) and blue (470 nm) wavelengths. These contributions are up to three times higher than values reported for other sites impacted by wood-burning emissions. The calculated mass absorption cross-section and the absorption Ångström exponent for RWB OA were MACOA, 370 nm= 2.4 m2 g-1, and AAEBrC, 370–590 nm= 3.9, respectively. Simple forcing efficiency (SFE) calculations were performed as a sensitivity analysis to evaluate the climate impact of the RWB aerosols produced at the study site by integrating the optical properties measured during the campaign. The SFE results show a considerable forcing capacity from the local RWB aerosols, with a high sensitivity to OA absorption properties and a more substantial impact over bright surfaces like snow, typical during the coldest season with higher OA emissions from RWB. Our study's results are highly significant regarding air pollution, optical properties, and climate impact. The findings suggest that there may be an underestimation of RWB emissions in rural Europe and that further investigation is necessary.
Keywords:wood-burning aerosols, optical characterization, black carbon, rural areas
Publication date:01.01.2024
Year of publishing:2024
Number of pages:str. 2583-2605
Numbering:Vol. 24, issue 4
PID:20.500.12556/RUNG-8740-6a9c7130-c8fe-ad04-273e-c10f61248029 New window
COBISS.SI-ID:180403459 New window
UDC:502.3/.7
ISSN on article:1680-7324
DOI:10.5194/acp-24-2583-2024 New window
NUK URN:URN:SI:UNG:REP:ATSDRI8I
Publication date in RUNG:10.01.2024
Views:1740
Downloads:11
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Record is a part of a journal

Title:Atmospheric chemistry and physics
Shortened title:Atmos. chem. phys.
Publisher:European Geophysical Society, Copernicus GmbH
ISSN:1680-7324
COBISS.SI-ID:1959012 New window

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License:CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Link:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Description:This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

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