The optical properties of black carbon

黑碳的光学性质

基本信息

批准号：
NE/F018142/1
负责人：
Roy Grainger
金额：
$ 36.69万
依托单位：
University of Oxford
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Research Grant
财政年份：
2009
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2009 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FF018142%2F1
关键词：
optical properties black carbon

项目摘要

An aerosol particle is so small that you could line up one hundred in the width of a human hair. It can float in the air almost undetected. These particles are important for human health: for example pollen causes hay fever. Asbestos, which was used in buildings built in the 1960s can generate an aerosol when disturbed that, if inhaled, can lead to lung cancer (in Britain around 3500 people die prematurely each year because of asbestos aerosols). Aerosols also play an important role in climate change. Most people are aware that global warming is due to gases such as carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, but aerosols also play an important role. Aerosols present in the atmosphere tend to reflect sunlight back into space, causing cooling of the Earth's atmosphere. Yet some aerosols, for example from fires and old diesel cars, are made from carbon and actually absorb the Sun's light. This warms the atmosphere. Aerosols also have an indirect effect on the climate: for example each water droplet in a cloud is normally formed around an aerosol particle, so more aerosols in the atmosphere will also affect how clouds form. Despite all that is known about aerosols their overall effect on global warming is uncertain. It is unclear if they cool or heat the Earth. This is particularly true for the light absorbing carbon aerosols. This project measures the optical properties that determines how much warming black carbon aerosols contribute, and how this changes as the aerosol ages. Many countries (e.g., China) are experiencing extended periods of economic and industrial growth that is likely to continue in future decades. This growth is accompanied by large increases in emissions of trace gases and particles, with serious implications for regional air quality and global climate. The information we gain will allow the government to regulate aerosol air pollution, hence improving air quality and public health.

气溶胶颗粒是如此之小，以至于您可以在人头发的宽度上排成一百个。它几乎可以漂浮在空中几乎未被发现。这些颗粒对人类健康很重要：例如花粉会导致花粉症。在1960年代建造的建筑物中使用的石棉会在被干扰的情况下产生气溶胶，如果吸入，则可以导致肺癌（在英国，由于石棉气溶胶，每年约有3500人过早死亡）。气溶胶在气候变化中也起着重要作用。大多数人都知道，全球变暖是由于释放到大气中的二氧化碳等气体所致，但气溶胶也起着重要作用。大气中存在的气溶胶倾向于将阳光反射回太空，从而导致地球大气的冷却。然而，有些气溶胶，例如用火和旧柴油车制成，是用碳制成的，实际上吸收了太阳的光。这使气氛温暖。气溶胶也对气候具有间接影响：例如，云中的每个水滴通常在气溶胶颗粒周围形成，因此大气中更多的气溶胶也会影响云的形成方式。尽管有所有有关气溶胶的知识，但它们对全球变暖的总体影响尚不确定。目前尚不清楚它们是冷却还是加热地球。对于吸光碳气溶胶，尤其如此。该项目衡量了确定黑色碳气溶胶贡献多少的光学性能，以及随着气溶胶年龄的变化。许多国家（例如中国）正在经历长期的经济和工业增长，这在未来几十年中可能会持续下去。这种增长伴随着痕量气体和颗粒的排放大量增加，对区域空气质量和全球气候产生了严重的影响。我们获得的信息将使政府能够规范气雾空气污染，从而改善空气质量和公共卫生。