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Anthropogenic combustion iron as a complex climate forcer

Author

Listed:
  • Hitoshi Matsui

    (Nagoya University
    Cornell University)

  • Natalie M. Mahowald

    (Cornell University)

  • Nobuhiro Moteki

    (University of Tokyo)

  • Douglas S. Hamilton

    (Cornell University)

  • Sho Ohata

    (University of Tokyo)

  • Atsushi Yoshida

    (University of Tokyo)

  • Makoto Koike

    (University of Tokyo)

  • Rachel A. Scanza

    (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

  • Mark G. Flanner

    (University of Michigan)

Abstract

Atmospheric iron affects the global carbon cycle by modulating ocean biogeochemistry through the deposition of soluble iron to the ocean. Iron emitted by anthropogenic (fossil fuel) combustion is a source of soluble iron that is currently considered less important than other soluble iron sources, such as mineral dust and biomass burning. Here we show that the atmospheric burden of anthropogenic combustion iron is 8 times greater than previous estimates by incorporating recent measurements of anthropogenic magnetite into a global aerosol model. This new estimation increases the total deposition flux of soluble iron to southern oceans (30–90 °S) by 52%, with a larger contribution of anthropogenic combustion iron than dust and biomass burning sources. The direct radiative forcing of anthropogenic magnetite is estimated to be 0.021 W m−2 globally and 0.22 W m−2 over East Asia. Our results demonstrate that anthropogenic combustion iron is a larger and more complex climate forcer than previously thought, and therefore plays a key role in the Earth system.

Suggested Citation

  • Hitoshi Matsui & Natalie M. Mahowald & Nobuhiro Moteki & Douglas S. Hamilton & Sho Ohata & Atsushi Yoshida & Makoto Koike & Rachel A. Scanza & Mark G. Flanner, 2018. "Anthropogenic combustion iron as a complex climate forcer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-03997-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03997-0
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