Emissions of shipping have great influences on atmospheric environment and global climate with the growth of maritime trade. Previous studies identified that shipping black carbon (BC) constitutes the main aerosol component that responsible for light absorption, while shipping organic carbon (OC) was generally considered non-absorbing. Recent studies have indicated that organic components derived from shipping emissions exhibit light absorption at short wavelengths (brown carbon, BrC). However, there is a lack of quantification regarding the absorption effects of shipping BrC. This study investigates the radiative absorption effect (RAE) of shipping BrC, updating models with measured shipping BrC light absorption ability. Surface concentrations of shipping BrC contribute ~ 40% to fossil fuel OC. The global annual average RAE of shipping BrC is +0.15 to +0.36 mW m⁻2, peaking in boreal summer. The warming effect of shipping BrC is 8%–19% relative to shipping BC. With the low-sulfur standard, the RAE of shipping BrC increases to +0.52 mW m⁻2, which is close to that of shipping BC (+0.52 mW m⁻2) and could offset ~ 40% of direct cooling effect of shipping sulfate. For the radiative absorption of shipping aerosols, BrC is an important part, whose contribution is greater with the upgrade of ship fuels.
• Shipping brown carbon contributes up to 40% of surface fossil fuel OC along ship route.
• Compared to shipping black carbon, the warming effect of shipping brown carbon is estimated to be 8%–19%
• With low-sulfur fuels standard, the emission of shipping OC are enhanced, thus the warming effects of shipping BrC are enhanced by 40%.
Global distribution and warming effect of brown carbon from shipping emissions
Carbon Res.
Carbon Research ; 4 , 1
21.05.2025
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Brown carbon , Black carbon , Shipping emission , Radiative effect , Light absorption Environment , Environment, general , Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology , Renewable and Green Energy , Fossil Fuels (incl. Carbon Capture) , Ceramics, Glass, Composites, Natural Materials , Earth and Environmental Science
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