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Implications of Site‐specific Mass Absorption Cross‐section (MAC) to Black Carbon Observations at a High‐altitude Site in the Central Himalaya

Asia-Pacific Journal of Atmospheric Sciences volume 58, pages 83–96 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Accurate estimation of black carbon (BC) from the widely used optical attenuation technique is important for the reliable assessment of their climatic impact. The optical instruments use Mass Absorption Cross-section (MAC) for converting light attenuation records to BC mass concentrations and Aethalometer is a widely used optical instrument for BC estimation. Several studies have shown large variability in MAC values. It is thus necessary to examine the accuracy and consistency of MAC values obtained using Aethalometer over distinct geographic locations and seasons. In the present study, MAC values are derived using simultaneous observations (2014–2017) from an EC-OC analyzer and an Aethalometer (AE-42) over a high altitude central Himalayan site at Nainital (29.4oN, 79.5oE, 1958 a.m.s.l). The observations reveal that the annual mean value of MAC (5.03 ± 0.03 m2g− 1 at 880nm) is significantly lower than the constant value used by the manufacturer (16.6 m2g− 1 at 880nm). The estimated MAC values also showed significant seasonal variation, spanning over a range from 3.7 to 6.6 m2g− 1. It is found that the seasonal variability of elemental carbon (EC), air mass variation and meteorological parameters play an important role in the changes in MAC values over this region. Multi-wavelength determination of MAC shows the contribution of absorption by species other than EC at shorter wavelengths. MAC does not show a clear diurnal variation, unlike EC and absorption coefficient. The slope of EC vs. corrected equivalent black carbon (eBC) showed a significant improvement during all seasons when compared with uncorrected eBC. This lends credibility to the fact that the use of site-specific MAC leads to more reliable estimates of eBC over the central Himalayan region. It is found that, instead of using the site specific MAC value, had we used the one supplied by the instrument, we would have underestimated the radiative forcing by about 7.8Wm− 2 which amounts to a reduction by 24 %.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the Director ARIES and ISRO-ARFI project for supporting this study. Technical support provided, during the observations by Nitin Pal and Deepak Chausali is highly valued. TRS and PS would like to acknowledge the facilities at the IUCAA Centre for Astronomy Research and Development at the University of Delhi. TRS acknowledges the grant from SERB EMR/2016/002286. We are thankful to the Editor and three reviewers for their constructive comments that have improved the quality of the work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Manora Peak, Nainital, 263002, India

    Priyanka Srivastava, Manish Naja & U. C. Dumka

  2. Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India

    Priyanka Srivastava & T. R. Seshadri

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, 208016, India

    Hema Joshi

  4. Space Physics Laboratory, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, 695022, Thiruvananthapuram, India

    Mukunda M. Gogoi & S. Suresh Babu

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  1. Priyanka Srivastava
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  2. Manish Naja
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  3. T. R. Seshadri
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  4. Hema Joshi
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  5. U. C. Dumka
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Correspondence to Manish Naja.

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Srivastava, P., Naja, M., Seshadri, T.R. et al. Implications of Site‐specific Mass Absorption Cross‐section (MAC) to Black Carbon Observations at a High‐altitude Site in the Central Himalaya. Asia-Pacific J Atmos Sci 58, 83–96 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13143-021-00241-6

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Keywords

  • Mass absorption cross‐section
  • Elemental carbon
  • Equivalent black carbon
  • Aethalometer
  • Himalaya