Southwestern U.S. Biomass Burning Smoke Hygroscopicity: The Role of Plant Phenology, Chemical Composition, and Combustion Properties

Gomez, Samantha Laray; Carrico, C. M.; Allen, C.; Lam, Jared Tate; Dabli, S.; Sullivan, A. P.; Aiken, Allison C.; Rahn, Thomas A.; Romonosky, Dian; Chylek, Petr; Sevanto, Sanna Annika; Dubey, Manvendra Krishna

doi:10.1029/2017JD028162

Southwestern U.S. Biomass Burning Smoke Hygroscopicity: The Role of Plant Phenology, Chemical Composition, and Combustion Properties

Journal Article · Wed Apr 25 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JD028162· OSTI ID:1524398

Gomez, Samantha Laray ^[1]; ^[2]; ^[2]; Lam, Jared Tate ^[2]; Dabli, S. ^[2]; ^[3]; ^[4]; ^[4]; ^[4]; ^[4]; ^[4]; ^[4]

New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM (United States); Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM (United States)
Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States)
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Biomass burning emissions have substantially increased with continued warming and drying in the southwestern U.S., impacting air quality and atmospheric processes. To better quantify impacts of biomass burning aerosols, an extensive laboratory study of fresh smoke emissions was conducted at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Laboratory burn experiments with selected native and invasive southwestern U.S. fuels were used to elucidate the role of fuel type, chemical composition, and ignition method on the hygroscopicity of smoke. Here we focus on a custom controlled relative humidity (RH) nephelometry system using the direct measurement of aerosol light scattering with two nephelometers—one at dry conditions and one at a controlled high RH (RH ~ 85%). Aerosol hygroscopicity was highly variable with the enhancement in light scattering coefficient in the range of 1.02 < f(RH = 85%) < 2.1 and corresponding to the kappa parameter (κ_neph) ranging from ~0 to 0.18. Hygroscopicity is determined primarily by the fuel's inorganic ion content. For example, invasive halophytes with high inorganic salt content exhibit much greater water uptake than native coniferous species with low inorganic content. Combustion temperature and phase, flaming or smoldering, play a secondary role in the water uptake of smoke. High–temperature ignition methods create flaming conditions that enhance hygroscopicity while lower–temperature smoldering conditions diminish hygroscopicity. Our results construct an empirical relation between κ_neph and the inorganic content of the fuel and smoke to predict water uptake.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: LDRD; USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001

OSTI ID:: 1524398

Report Number(s):: LA-UR--18-20787

Journal Information:: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 123; ISSN 2169-897X

Publisher:: American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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