The sensitivity of global nucleation, cloud condensation nuclei and climate to SO2 and criegee-intermediate chemistry

Pierce, , JR; Evans, MJ; Scott, CE; D'Andrea, SD; Farmer, DK; Swietlicki, E; Spracklen, DV

HERO ID

1902082

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2013

HERO ID 1902082
In Press No
Year 2013
Title The sensitivity of global nucleation, cloud condensation nuclei and climate to SO2 and criegee-intermediate chemistry
Authors Pierce, , JR; Evans, MJ; Scott, CE; D'Andrea, SD; Farmer, DK; Swietlicki, E; Spracklen, DV
Journal AIP Conference Proceedings
Volume 1527
Page Numbers 675-678
Abstract Recent studies have shown that the reaction of stabilized Criegee intermediates (CIs, formed from the ozonolysis of alkenes) with SO2 may be an important source sulfuric acid vapor (H2SO4) in alkene-rich regions. We use a global atmospheric chemistry model, GEOS-Chem, with the online aerosol microphysics module, TOMAS, to investigate the impact of CI+SO2 chemistry on cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations. To get an upper bound for the effect of CI+SO2 chemistry, we use the fastest published rate constants in our simulations. The addition of CI+SO2 chemistry increases H2SO4 globally by 4%, but by over 100% in forested regions, particularly the tropics. However, changes in CCN due to CI+SO2 chemistry were significantly lower, less than 1% globally and no more than 15% in any region. The estimated change in the brightness aerosol indirect effect (AIE) due to the addition of CI+SO2 chemistry was -0.03 W m(-2) globally, which is over an order-of-magnitude smaller than many other model uncertainties such as nucleation mechanisms, primary emissions, SOA and deposition. Thus, we conclude that the details of CI+SO2 chemistry are relatively unimportant in predicting the aerosol indirect effect and have only a minor impact on climate.
Doi 10.1063/1.4803361
Wosid WOS:000319766400169
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Conference Location Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Conference Name NUCLEATION AND ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOLS: 19th International Conference
Is Public Yes
Keyword Aerosols; CCN; H2SO4; nucleation; sulfur; sulfate; Criegee