Biomass Burning Smoke and Its Influence on Clouds Over the Western U. S.

Cynthia H. Twohy; Darin W. Toohey; Ezra J.T. Levin; Paul J. DeMott; Bryan Rainwater; Lauren A. Garofalo; Matson A. Pothier; Delphine K. Farmer; Sonia M. Kreidenweis; Rudra P. Pokhrel; Shane M. Murphy; J. Michael Reeves; Kathryn A. Moore; Emily V. Fischer

doi:10.1029/2021GL094224

Biomass Burning Smoke and Its Influence on Clouds Over the Western U. S.

Cynthia H. Twohy, Darin W. Toohey, Ezra J.T. Levin, Paul J. DeMott, Bryan Rainwater, Lauren A. Garofalo, Matson A. Pothier, Delphine K. Farmer, Sonia M. Kreidenweis, Rudra P. Pokhrel, Shane M. Murphy, J. Michael Reeves, Kathryn A. Moore, Emily V. Fischer

Earth Observing Lab

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Small cumulus clouds over the western United States were measured via airborne instruments during the wildfire season in summer of 2018. Statistics of the sampled clouds are presented and compared to smoke aerosol properties. Cloud droplet concentrations were enhanced in regions impacted by biomass burning smoke, at times exceeding 3,000 cm⁻³. Images and elemental composition of individual smoke particles and cloud droplet residuals are presented and show that most are dominantly organic, internally mixed with some inorganic elements. Despite their high organic content and relatively low hygroscopicity, on average about half of smoke aerosol particles >80 nm diameter formed cloud droplets. This reduced cloud droplet size in small, smoke-impacted clouds. A number of complex and competing climatic impacts may result from wide-spread reductions in cloud droplet size due to wildfires prevalent across the region during summer months.

Original language	English
Article number	e2021GL094224
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	48
Issue number	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094224
State	Published - Aug 16 2021

Keywords

biomass burning
climate
clouds
indirect effects
smoke aerosol
wildfires

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Twohy, C. H., Toohey, D. W., Levin, E. J. T., DeMott, P. J., Rainwater, B., Garofalo, L. A., Pothier, M. A., Farmer, D. K., Kreidenweis, S. M., Pokhrel, R. P., Murphy, S. M., Reeves, J. M., Moore, K. A., & Fischer, E. V. (2021). Biomass Burning Smoke and Its Influence on Clouds Over the Western U. S. Geophysical Research Letters, 48(15), Article e2021GL094224. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094224

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title = "Biomass Burning Smoke and Its Influence on Clouds Over the Western U. S.",

abstract = "Small cumulus clouds over the western United States were measured via airborne instruments during the wildfire season in summer of 2018. Statistics of the sampled clouds are presented and compared to smoke aerosol properties. Cloud droplet concentrations were enhanced in regions impacted by biomass burning smoke, at times exceeding 3,000 cm−3. Images and elemental composition of individual smoke particles and cloud droplet residuals are presented and show that most are dominantly organic, internally mixed with some inorganic elements. Despite their high organic content and relatively low hygroscopicity, on average about half of smoke aerosol particles >80 nm diameter formed cloud droplets. This reduced cloud droplet size in small, smoke-impacted clouds. A number of complex and competing climatic impacts may result from wide-spread reductions in cloud droplet size due to wildfires prevalent across the region during summer months.",

keywords = "biomass burning, climate, clouds, indirect effects, smoke aerosol, wildfires",

author = "Twohy, \{Cynthia H.\} and Toohey, \{Darin W.\} and Levin, \{Ezra J.T.\} and DeMott, \{Paul J.\} and Bryan Rainwater and Garofalo, \{Lauren A.\} and Pothier, \{Matson A.\} and Farmer, \{Delphine K.\} and Kreidenweis, \{Sonia M.\} and Pokhrel, \{Rudra P.\} and Murphy, \{Shane M.\} and Reeves, \{J. Michael\} and Moore, \{Kathryn A.\} and Fischer, \{Emily V.\}",

year = "2021",

month = aug,

day = "16",

doi = "10.1029/2021GL094224",

language = "English",

volume = "48",

journal = "Geophysical Research Letters",

issn = "0094-8276",

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T1 - Biomass Burning Smoke and Its Influence on Clouds Over the Western U. S.

AU - Twohy, Cynthia H.

AU - Toohey, Darin W.

AU - Levin, Ezra J.T.

AU - DeMott, Paul J.

AU - Rainwater, Bryan

AU - Garofalo, Lauren A.

AU - Pothier, Matson A.

AU - Farmer, Delphine K.

AU - Kreidenweis, Sonia M.

AU - Pokhrel, Rudra P.

AU - Murphy, Shane M.

AU - Reeves, J. Michael

AU - Moore, Kathryn A.

AU - Fischer, Emily V.

PY - 2021/8/16

Y1 - 2021/8/16

N2 - Small cumulus clouds over the western United States were measured via airborne instruments during the wildfire season in summer of 2018. Statistics of the sampled clouds are presented and compared to smoke aerosol properties. Cloud droplet concentrations were enhanced in regions impacted by biomass burning smoke, at times exceeding 3,000 cm−3. Images and elemental composition of individual smoke particles and cloud droplet residuals are presented and show that most are dominantly organic, internally mixed with some inorganic elements. Despite their high organic content and relatively low hygroscopicity, on average about half of smoke aerosol particles >80 nm diameter formed cloud droplets. This reduced cloud droplet size in small, smoke-impacted clouds. A number of complex and competing climatic impacts may result from wide-spread reductions in cloud droplet size due to wildfires prevalent across the region during summer months.

AB - Small cumulus clouds over the western United States were measured via airborne instruments during the wildfire season in summer of 2018. Statistics of the sampled clouds are presented and compared to smoke aerosol properties. Cloud droplet concentrations were enhanced in regions impacted by biomass burning smoke, at times exceeding 3,000 cm−3. Images and elemental composition of individual smoke particles and cloud droplet residuals are presented and show that most are dominantly organic, internally mixed with some inorganic elements. Despite their high organic content and relatively low hygroscopicity, on average about half of smoke aerosol particles >80 nm diameter formed cloud droplets. This reduced cloud droplet size in small, smoke-impacted clouds. A number of complex and competing climatic impacts may result from wide-spread reductions in cloud droplet size due to wildfires prevalent across the region during summer months.

KW - biomass burning

KW - climate

KW - clouds

KW - indirect effects

KW - smoke aerosol

KW - wildfires

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85112115226

U2 - 10.1029/2021GL094224

DO - 10.1029/2021GL094224

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85112115226

SN - 0094-8276

VL - 48

JO - Geophysical Research Letters

JF - Geophysical Research Letters

IS - 15

M1 - e2021GL094224

ER -

Biomass Burning Smoke and Its Influence on Clouds Over the Western U. S.

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Keywords

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