AAAR 33rd Annual Conference
October 20 - October 24, 2014
Rosen Shingle Creek
Orlando, Florida, USA
Abstract View
Laboratory Evaluation of Black Carbon Aerosol Deposition to Snow
Larry Hermanson, JOSHUA P. SCHWARZ, Anne Perring, Milos Markovic, David Fahey, NOAA/CIRES
Abstract Number: 90 Working Group: Carbonaceous Aerosols in the Atmosphere
Abstract Black carbon deposition to and in snow has been identified as a significant forcer of climate with the potential to change snow melt timing and extent with implications for water availability. In ambient measurements, there have been conflicting results about the fate of BC in the snow; some suggest that it can be concentrated at the top of the snow pack, increasing its effectiveness as a light absorber, while other suggest that the BC can be removed from the snow pack with melt. To address these questions, we have conducted measurements of laboratory black carbon aerosol deposition to snow, and eventual removal in melting, under controlled laboratory conditions. Deposition rates as a function of depth in the snow were assessed with a single particle soot photometer (SP2), for both bare and coated BC particles, and coatings of differing water activity. Here we present the early results of these tests.