A research group led by Assistant Professor Nobuhiro Mogi of the Graduate School of Science, the University of Tokyo, in collaboration with the Meteorological Research Institute of the Japan Meteorological Agency and the National Institute of Polar Research, produced black iron oxide particles by an artificial high-temperature process in the convection zone over East Asia. Discovered that it exists at a high mass concentration.At the same time, it was shown that these particles have a large atmospheric heating effect.
Of the fine particles (aerosols) floating in the earth's atmosphere, particles made of black substances cause heating of the atmosphere and the snow and ice surface by absorbing sunlight, which not only contributes to the warming of the entire climate, but also the amount of precipitation and melting of snow. It also affects water circulation such as speed.Until now, only carbonic particles (black carbon and brown carbon) mainly composed of carbon released during combustion of fossils and biofuels have been known as black particles of anthropogenic origin.
This time, black iron oxide particles generated by an artificially high-temperature process have a high mass concentration (at least 40% of the mass concentration of black carbon) in the convection zone over East Asia by aircraft observation equipped with an independently developed analyzer. I found it to exist.
It is said that such black iron oxide particles are generated from high-temperature parts of automobile engines and brakes, iron-making processes, etc., and this time, the number concentration and mass concentration according to particle size have been clarified for the first time.At the same time, theoretical calculations based on observational data have shown that the particles have a large atmospheric heating effect that can affect the climate.
The results of this study indicate that not only carbonic particles but also black iron oxide particles may be important as a cause of global warming and changes in the water cycle.In addition, since it has been pointed out that black iron oxide particles cause health hazards, it is important to elucidate the actual condition of anthropogenic black iron oxide particles not only from the viewpoint of climatic effects but also from the viewpoint of health effects.
Paper information:[Nature Communications] Anthropogenic iron oxide aerosols enhance atmospheric heating
