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The turbulent future brings a breath of fresh air

Author

Listed:
  • Camilla W. Stjern

    (CICERO Center for International Climate Research)

  • Øivind Hodnebrog

    (CICERO Center for International Climate Research)

  • Gunnar Myhre

    (CICERO Center for International Climate Research)

  • Ignacio Pisso

    (Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU))

Abstract

Ventilation of health hazardous aerosol pollution within the planetary boundary layer (PBL) – the lowest layer of the atmosphere – is dependent upon turbulent mixing, which again is closely linked to the height of the PBL. Here we show that emissions of both CO2 and absorbing aerosols such as black carbon influence the number of severe air pollution episodes through impacts on turbulence and PBL height. While absorbing aerosols cause increased boundary layer stability and reduced turbulence through atmospheric heating, CO2 has the opposite effect over land through surface warming. In future scenarios with increasing CO2 concentrations and reduced aerosol emissions, we find that around 10% of the world’s population currently living in regions with high pollution levels are likely to experience a particularly strong increase in turbulence and PBL height, and thus a reduction in intense pollution events. Our results highlight how these boundary layer processes provide an added positive impact of black carbon mitigation to human health.

Suggested Citation

  • Camilla W. Stjern & Øivind Hodnebrog & Gunnar Myhre & Ignacio Pisso, 2023. "The turbulent future brings a breath of fresh air," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-39298-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39298-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sourangsu Chowdhury & Sagnik Dey & Kirk R. Smith, 2018. "Ambient PM2.5 exposure and expected premature mortality to 2100 in India under climate change scenarios," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Ying Xu & Jie Wu & Zhenyu Han, 2022. "Evaluation and Projection of Surface PM 2.5 and Its Exposure on Population in Asia Based on the CMIP6 GCMs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-18, September.
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