Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (Jul 2025)
Source-dependent optical properties and molecular characteristics of atmospheric brown carbon
- J. Zhai,
- J. Zhai,
- Y. Zhang,
- Y. Zhang,
- P. Liu,
- Y. Zhang,
- Y. Zhang,
- A. Zhang,
- A. Zhang,
- Y. Zeng,
- Y. Zeng,
- B. Cai,
- B. Cai,
- J. Zhang,
- J. Zhang,
- C. Xing,
- C. Xing,
- H. Yang,
- X. Wang,
- J. Ye,
- J. Ye,
- C. Wang,
- C. Wang,
- T.-M. Fu,
- T.-M. Fu,
- L. Zhu,
- L. Zhu,
- H. Shen,
- H. Shen,
- S. Tao,
- S. Tao,
- X. Yang,
- X. Yang
Affiliations
- J. Zhai
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- J. Zhai
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
- Y. Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Y. Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen 518055, China
- P. Liu
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Y. Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Y. Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen 518055, China
- A. Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- A. Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Y. Zeng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Y. Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen 518055, China
- B. Cai
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- B. Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen 518055, China
- J. Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- J. Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen 518055, China
- C. Xing
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- C. Xing
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen 518055, China
- H. Yang
- Shenzhen National Climate Observatory, Meteorological Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, Shenzhen 518040, China
- X. Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
- J. Ye
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- J. Ye
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen 518055, China
- C. Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- C. Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen 518055, China
- T.-M. Fu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- T.-M. Fu
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen 518055, China
- L. Zhu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- L. Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen 518055, China
- H. Shen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- H. Shen
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen 518055, China
- S. Tao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- S. Tao
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen 518055, China
- X. Yang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- X. Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen 518055, China
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7959-2025
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 25
pp. 7959 – 7972
Abstract
Atmospheric brown carbon (BrC) can significantly affect Earth's radiation budget by its wavelength-dependent absorption in the ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) range. BrC consists of a wide variety of organics with different optical properties, making accurate climate modeling essential for understanding its radiative impact. Here, we conducted a field campaign during the summer in Shenzhen, China, to investigate the optical properties and molecular characteristics of BrC from diverse particle sources using both online and offline measurements. BrC mass concentrations were determined based on either thermally desorbed organic carbon or water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), and the corresponding mass absorption cross-sections (MACs) were calculated accordingly. Different sources of BrC, including those from secondary production associated with ozone pollution, urban transportation, and biomass burning, were identified through meteorological data and particle chemical compositions. The results show that the MAC of BrC varied across sources, with BrC from biomass combustion exhibiting the highest MAC at 370 nm (3.42 ± 0.41 m2 g−1) and secondary BrC associated with ozone pollution showing the lowest (1.25 ± 0.56 m2 g−1). Nevertheless, secondary BrC exhibited the highest absorption Ångström exponent (AAE), while the BrC from biomass burning had the lowest AAE. Molecular analysis revealed that species in the CHON family from biomass burning demonstrated the strongest light absorption. Our results provide valuable insights for quantifying the source-specific optical properties of BrC, enhancing the accuracy of climate models.
