Aerosol Black Carbon Transport to Antarctica

Aerosol Black Carbon Transport to Antarctica

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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 Scientificand Technological Development

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.


• Diameter (between 0.01 and 1.0 microns) in the atmosphere.

• So, available to be dispersed at long ranges.

Courtesy of U. Lohmann

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!

Novakov, et al. (2003). GRL

Ramanathan and Carmichael, 2003. Nature Geo.

Aerosol Black Carbon (historical emissions)

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.

BC emission strength in tons per year

Biomass burning a long way from 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.

Bueno Pereira et al. 2006.JGR

How do South American aerosols reach Antarctica ?

Cyclonic activity

Atmospheric exchanges between Antarctica and

South America

Detecting the BC signal in Antarctica

Atmospheric and ice core measurements at the same site

Detroit Plateau – Antarctic Peninsula

Himalaya 3 fold increase in BC from 1860 to 2000largest climate forcing from BC in snowImpact on water resources(Source: Paul Mayewski, personal communication)

Swiss Alps 3.7 to 6-fold increase in elemental carbon fromlate XVIII century to late XX century.

Other glaciers measurements

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

Reducing Black Carbon emissions helps to reduce the effect of absorbing impurities snow albedo.

Reduces melting on glaciers surface.

2011-2012

First Brazilian campaign in Central Antarctica for simultaneousBC 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.

Centro Polar e ClimáticoUNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL (UFRGS)

Porto Alegre – Brazil

(www.ufrgs.br/antartica)

[email protected]

Thank you for the attention!

http://www.ufrgs.br/antartica