Anthropogenic iron oxide aerosols enhance atmospheric heating

Nobuhiro Moteki (), Kouji Adachi, Sho Ohata, Atsushi Yoshida, Tomoo Harigaya, Makoto Koike and Yutaka Kondo
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Nobuhiro Moteki: Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo
Kouji Adachi: Meteorological Research Institute
Sho Ohata: Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo
Atsushi Yoshida: Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo
Tomoo Harigaya: Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo
Makoto Koike: Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo
Yutaka Kondo: Arctic Environment Research Center, National Institute of Polar Research

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Combustion-induced carbonaceous aerosols, particularly black carbon (BC) and brown carbon (BrC), have been largely considered as the only significant anthropogenic contributors to shortwave atmospheric heating. Natural iron oxide (FeOx) has been recognized as an important contributor, but the potential contribution of anthropogenic FeOx is unknown. In this study, we quantify the abundance of FeOx over East Asia through aircraft measurements using a modified single-particle soot photometer. The majority of airborne FeOx particles in the continental outflows are of anthropogenic origin in the form of aggregated magnetite nanoparticles. The shortwave absorbing powers (Pabs) attributable to FeOx and to BC are calculated on the basis of their size-resolved mass concentrations and the mean Pabs(FeOx)/Pabs(BC) ratio in the continental outflows is estimated to be at least 4–7%. We demonstrate that in addition to carbonaceous aerosols the aggregate of magnetite nanoparticles is a significant anthropogenic contributor to shortwave atmospheric heating.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15329

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