The calculated difference in the top of atmosphere shortwave radiation flux associated with household cooking and heating emissions, showing the warming effect over the east China region. Credit: Archer-Nicholls et al [2019], Figure 5b
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres

Aerosol particles affect surface temperatures by reflecting as well as absorbing sunlight. The results of the work by Archer-Nicholls et al. [2019] show that reducing winter-time aerosol emissions from the residential sector in China may have both public health and short-term climate mitigation benefits. The carbonaceous particles that are emitted by residential activities include black and organic carbon, but their contributions are poorly characterized and highly variable, with only limited information available to track usage. This work uses measurements and models to constrain the uncertainty of the effects of these emissions. The results for radiative forcing impacts of household energy use provide preliminary evidence for co-benefits of climate change mitigation strategies that might reduce emissions in the residential sector, especially in China.

Citation: Archer‐Nicholls, S., Lowe, D., Lacey, F., Kumar, R., Xiao, Q., Liu, Y., et al. [2019]. Radiative effects of residential sector emissions in China: Sensitivity to uncertainty in black carbon emissions. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 124. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD030120

—Lynn Russell, Editor, JGR: Atmospheres

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