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Aerosol Black Carbon Transport to Antarctica

Aerosol Black Carbon Transport to Antarctica. BLACK CARBON Signal of global pollution and its impact on ice masses Jefferson C. Simões & Heitor Evangelista Brazilian National Institute for Cryopheric Sciences, Porto Alegre, RS - BRAZIL. Brazilian National Council for Scientific

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Aerosol Black Carbon Transport to Antarctica

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  1. Aerosol Black Carbon Transport to Antarctica BLACK CARBON Signal of global pollution and its impact on ice masses Jefferson C. Simões & Heitor Evangelista Brazilian National Institute for Cryopheric Sciences, Porto Alegre, RS - BRAZIL Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development Image background: London at Night

  2. Aerosol Black Carbon (definition) • Originates from the incomplete burning • of biomass or fossil fuel. • Basically formed by small highly solar- • radiation absorbing particles. • Found from the Arctic to Antarctica.

  3. Aerosol Black Carbon (definition) • Diameter (between 0.01 and 1.0 • microns) in the atmosphere. • So, available to be dispersed at • long ranges. Courtesy of U. Lohmann

  4. Aerosol Black Carbon (definitions) BC belongs to the ‘short-lived pollutants’ group, which are retained in the atmosphere for some days before deposition. These ‘short-lived pollutants’ are the second most important contributor to global warming! (Hansen and Nazarenko 2004). * In short, BC absorbs light and heats the atmosphere!

  5. Aerosol Black Carbon (historical emissions) BC emission strength in tons per year • Emissions for 1996 from: • fuel combustion (fossil fuels and biofuels); • open biomass burning (forest fires, savanna • burning and outdoor cooking. • Regional emission uncertainty is about ±100% or more. Ramanathan and Carmichael, 2003. Nature Geo. Novakov, et al. (2003). GRL

  6. Biomass burning a long way from Antarctica!

  7. How do South American aerosols reach Antarctica ? Emissions from the vegetation burning in South America reach the South Shetlands with frontal systems in the Drake Passage. Measurements of Black Carbon and circulation patterns corroborate the transport of pollutants. Cyclonic activity Bueno Pereira et al. 2006. JGR

  8. Atmospheric exchanges between Antarctica and South America

  9. Detecting the BC signal in Antarctica Atmospheric and ice core measurements at the same site Detroit Plateau – Antarctic Peninsula

  10. Other glaciers measurements Himalaya 3 fold increase in BC from 1860 to 2000 largest climate forcing from BC in snow Impact on water resources (Source: Paul Mayewski, personal communication) Swiss Alps 3.7 to 6-fold increase in elemental carbon from late XVIII century to late XX century.

  11. Aerosol Black Carbon (Environmental impact) BC impact on the surface of snow and ice masses • reduces the surface albedo • increase melting • trigger albedo feedback • changes the glacier mass balance • contribute to glacier retreat

  12. Reducing Black Carbon emissions helps to reduce the effect of absorbing impurities snow albedo. Reduces melting on glaciers surface.

  13. 2011-2012 First Brazilian campaign in Central Antarctica for simultaneous BC sampling in the atmosphere, snow surface and ice cores. Remote controlled equipments to monitor the transport of BC from South America to Antarctica along the year.

  14. Centro Polar e Climático UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL (UFRGS) Porto Alegre – Brazil (www.ufrgs.br/antartica) jefferson.simoes@ufrgs.br Thank you for the attention!

  15. Aerosol Black Carbon Transport to Antarctica BLACK CARBON Signal of global pollution and its impact on ice masses Jefferson C. Simões & Heitor Evangelista Brazilian National Institute for Cryopheric Sciences, Porto Alegre, RS - BRAZIL Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development Image background: London at Night

  16. Aerosol Black Carbon (definition) • Originates from the incomplete burning • of biomass or fossil fuel. • Basically formed by small highly solar- • radiation absorbing particles. • Found from the Arctic to Antarctica.

  17. Aerosol Black Carbon (definition) • Diameter (between 0.01 and 1.0 • microns) in the atmosphere. • So, available to be dispersed at • long ranges. Courtesy of U. Lohmann

  18. Aerosol Black Carbon (definitions) BC belongs to the ‘short-lived pollutants’ group, which are retained in the atmosphere for some days before deposition. These ‘short-lived pollutants’ are the second most important contributor to global warming! (Hansen and Nazarenko 2004). * In short, BC absorbs light and heats the atmosphere!

  19. Aerosol Black Carbon (historical emissions) BC emission strength in tons per year • Emissions for 1996 from: • fuel combustion (fossil fuels and biofuels); • open biomass burning (forest fires, savanna • burning and outdoor cooking. • Regional emission uncertainty is about ±100% or more. Ramanathan and Carmichael, 2003. Nature Geo. Novakov, et al. (2003). GRL

  20. Biomass burning a long way from Antarctica!

  21. How do South American aerosols reach Antarctica ? Emissions from the vegetation burning in South America reach the South Shetlands with frontal systems in the Drake Passage. Measurements of Black Carbon and circulation patterns corroborate the transport of pollutants. Cyclonic activity Bueno Pereira et al. 2006. JGR

  22. Atmospheric exchanges between Antarctica and South America

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