AGU journal highlights -- August 6, 2008(ly one third that of carbon dioxide. Thi...)

Date:8/6/2008

ly one third that of carbon dioxide. This is particularly hazardous for places such as the Arctic, where the presence of soot can drastically increase the amount of light absorbed by snow and ice surfaces. To learn more about sources of soot, Lack et al. study emissions from commercial shipping, which is expected to increase by 2?? percent each year. Using data taken from a survey in the Gulf of Mexico, the authors find that the highest soot emitters (per unit fuel combusted) are tugboats. Their study reveals as well that emissions of soot from cargo and noncargo vessels are double the most recent estimates and also independent of engine load. In total, the authors find that soot emitted by the shipping industry contributes to about 2 percent of the total soot present in the atmosphere. Although relatively small, this 2 percent can increase soot burdens in coastal areas close to ports by nearly 40 percent, significantly worsening local air quality.

See 9 July 2008 press release about this paper at http://www.agu.org/sci_soc/prrl/2008-23.html

Title:

Light absorbing carbon emissions from commercial shipping

Authors:

Daniel Lack, Brian Lerner, Paola Massoli, and Eric Williams: NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.; also at Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.;

Claire Granier: NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.; also at Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.; also at Service d'Aronomie, CNRS, Universit Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France;

Tahllee Banyard: NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.; also at Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.; now a
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Contact: Peter Weiss pweiss@agu.org 202-777-7507 American Geophysical Union Source:Eurekalert

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