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A Review on Brown Carbon Aerosol in China: From Molecular Composition to Climate Impact

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

As an important type of light-absorbing aerosol in the atmosphere, brown carbon (BrC) is an effective driver for climate change. Field observations of BrC typically involve the extraction of filter samples (e.g., using water and methanol), followed by optical and chemical analyses. This review summarizes the concentration measurements, optical properties, and chemical characteristics of BrC in China, based on results from the extraction approach.

Recent Findings

We started with measurement techniques for the determination of BrC concentration and compared the extraction efficiencies of different solvents. Then we investigated the temporal and spatial variations of BrC’s absorption Ångström exponent (AAE) and mass absorption efficiency at 365 nm (MAE365), two parameters relevant to climate studies. AAE and MAE365 were found to be mainly influenced by the type of solvent used and BrC sources, respectively. Using the observed AAE and MAE365, BrC was demonstrated to be a non-negligible contributor to climate forcing. Finally, BrC chromophores were discussed on a molecular level, with focus on the nitrogen-containing compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Summary

Despite studies on BrC concentrations measurements were widely conducted, standardized methods remain inconclusive. Regarding the optical properties of BrC, MAE365 exhibited significant temporal and spatial patterns, while AAE showed the opposite results. Through chemical characterization, BrC chromophores were identified and their association with optical properties was highlighted. This review contributes to the understanding of BrC properties and has implications for future studies on BrC.

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Data Availability

No datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42222706).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China

    Xubing Cao, Jiumeng Liu & Yuan Cheng

  2. Department of Earth Science, University College London, London, WC1E 6BS, England, UK

    Yuliang Wu

  3. State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    Mei Zheng

  4. State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Kebin He

  5. Institute for Carbon Neutrality, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Kebin He

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  1. Xubing Cao
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XC drafted the manuscript, with inputs from all the co-authors. YC and YW revised the manuscript. JL, MZ, and KH reviewed the manuscript.

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Cao, X., Liu, J., Wu, Y. et al. A Review on Brown Carbon Aerosol in China: From Molecular Composition to Climate Impact. Curr Pollution Rep (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-024-00293-y

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