Chen et al. (2025) Radiative Response to Large Decline in Anthropogenic Emissions From China Between 2008 and 2016 Is Modified by Simultaneous Biomass Burning Emission Changes

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-11-18
• Authors: Yue Chen, Steven T. Turnock, Catherine E. Scott, S. R. Arnold
• DOI: 10.1029/2025jd044548

Research Groups

Researchers using the UK Earth System Model (UKESM)

Short Summary

This study quantifies the instantaneous radiative forcing (IRF) from changes in anthropogenic and biomass burning aerosol emissions over 2008–2016 using the UK Earth System Model, revealing significant regional and global IRF shifts due to Chinese anthropogenic emission reductions and a notable role for biomass burning, particularly in the Arctic.

Objective

• To estimate the instantaneous radiative forcing (IRF) due to changes in emissions of aerosols and precursors from biomass burning and anthropogenic sources (separately and in combination) over 2008–2016, with a focus on China and regions downwind.
• To separately quantify the IRF due to changes in anthropogenic aerosol emissions inside China (CHN) and the Rest Of the World (ROW).

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional (China, North Pacific Ocean, Arctic) and Global.
• Temporal Scale: 2008–2016.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: UK Earth System Model (UKESM).
• Data sources: Emission inventories for anthropogenic aerosols (Black Carbon (BC), Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂), Organic Carbon (OC)) and biomass burning aerosols (implied by "changes in emissions").

Main Results

• Reductions in Chinese anthropogenic emissions contributed to IRF over China:
  • Black Carbon (BC): −0.30 ± 0.01 W m⁻²
  • Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂): +1.00 ± 0.04 W m⁻²
  • Organic Carbon (OC): +0.05 ± 0.01 W m⁻²
  • These accounted for approximately 97% of the total local anthropogenic aerosol IRF over China.
• These Chinese emission changes contributed a remote regional IRF of 0.22 ± 0.04 W m⁻² over the North Pacific Ocean.
• The reduction in SO₂ emissions from China contributed a global IRF of approximately 0.08 W m⁻², which was of equal magnitude to that from SO₂ emissions from the Rest Of the World (ROW).
• Changes in global biomass burning emissions contributed 0.03 W m⁻² globally, enhancing the global anthropogenic aerosol IRF.
• Biomass burning emissions partly offset the anthropogenic IRF over China.
• Biomass burning emissions dominated the total IRF (around 98%) over the Arctic.

Contributions

• Provides a detailed quantification of aerosol instantaneous radiative forcing specifically for the 2008–2016 period, characterized by significant reductions in Chinese anthropogenic emissions.
• Separately quantifies the contributions of Chinese anthropogenic, Rest Of the World anthropogenic, and global biomass burning emissions to regional and global IRF.
• Highlights the remote impacts of Chinese emission changes (e.g., over the North Pacific Ocean) and the significant role of biomass burning in specific regions like the Arctic.

Funding

• Not specified in the abstract.

Citation

@article{Chen2025Radiative,
  author = {Chen, Yue and Turnock, Steven T. and Scott, Catherine E. and Arnold, S. R.},
  title = {Radiative Response to Large Decline in Anthropogenic Emissions From China Between 2008 and 2016 Is Modified by Simultaneous Biomass Burning Emission Changes},
  journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1029/2025jd044548},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2025jd044548}
}