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U.S. Department of Energy
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Uncertainties in the radiative properties of smoke and their effects on climate assessments

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5412956
The sensitivity of the climatic effects of large tropospheric smoke loadings to uncertainties in the physical and radiative properties of the smoke is investigated. The extinction coefficient is shown to be very sensitive to the smoke composition and particle size distribution. The reduction in surface temperature resulting from an initial smoke mass loading of 0.5 gm/sup -2/ varies by more than a factor of 2 depending upon the index of refraction, particle size distribution, and vertical distribution of the smoke in the troposphere. As the smoke is modified by microphysical processes after injection into the atmosphere, the extinction coefficient for urban smoke may be reduced significantly. 8 refs., 7 figs.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
5412956
Report Number(s):
UCRL-92942; CONF-8408122-6; ON: DE85015187
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English