Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BIOAAT (Primary Biological Aerosol in the Atmosphere: Origins, Microphysical Processes, and Climatic Feedbacks)
Période du rapport: 2021-04-01 au 2023-03-31
Primary biological aerosol particles (PBAPs), such as bacteria, fungal spores, and micro-algae, are significant natural sources of atmospheric particles, abundant in various ecosystems. They are dispersed over long distances and high altitudes by wind, playing a crucial role in spreading microorganisms, and affecting nutrient cycles, agriculture, and public health. Additionally, PBAPs act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) or ice nuclei (IN), impacting cloud and precipitation formation, radiation budget, and Earth's hydrological cycle and climate.
The terrestrial emission flux of PBAP is estimated at 50 to 1000 Tg/yr, with a high uncertainty. Definitions of PBAPs vary across literature, leading to discrepancies in reported emission fluxes. The role of PBAPs in ice formation and climate impact remains uncertain due to limited measurements, especially over marine environments.
Understanding PBAPs-cloud interactions is essential for climate research, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 13 and the Paris Agreement. The BIOAAT project aims to address key scientific questions regarding PBAPs:
1. Global distribution and emission variations of PBAPs, affecting mass, surface concentration, deposition, and atmospheric lifetime.
2. Parametrization of PBAPs' ice nucleation activity considering their unique features.
3. Assessment of PBAPs' climatic impacts, especially in cloud formation scenarios.
Key conclusions from BIOAAT include:
1. Development of the GISS-E2.1 climate model incorporating PBAPs emissions for investigating their climatic impacts.
2. PBAPs emissions contribute to cooling effects, particularly evident with increased emissions.
3. Recognition of the importance of PBAPs emissions from marine environments, often overlooked in previous studies.
4. Emphasis on the necessity of additional experimental data to refine PBAPs emission estimates and validate modeling studies.
5. Importance of considering PBAPs' molecular features, such as proteins attached to cell membranes, in parametrizing their ice nucleation activity.
6. Acknowledgment of the significant impact of PBAPs-cloud interactions on cloud radiative forcings, highlighting the need for comprehensive modeling.
In summary, the BIOAAT project advances understanding of PBAPs' role in climate dynamics, emphasizing the complexity of their interactions with clouds and the atmosphere.
The terrestrial emission flux of PBAP is estimated at 50 to 1000 Tg/yr, with a high uncertainty. Definitions of PBAPs vary across literature, leading to discrepancies in reported emission fluxes. The role of PBAPs in ice formation and climate impact remains uncertain due to limited measurements, especially over marine environments.
Understanding PBAPs-cloud interactions is essential for climate research, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 13 and the Paris Agreement. The BIOAAT project aims to address key scientific questions regarding PBAPs:
1. Global distribution and emission variations of PBAPs, affecting mass, surface concentration, deposition, and atmospheric lifetime.
2. Parametrization of PBAPs' ice nucleation activity considering their unique features.
3. Assessment of PBAPs' climatic impacts, especially in cloud formation scenarios.
Key conclusions from BIOAAT include:
1. Development of the GISS-E2.1 climate model incorporating PBAPs emissions for investigating their climatic impacts.
2. PBAPs emissions contribute to cooling effects, particularly evident with increased emissions.
3. Recognition of the importance of PBAPs emissions from marine environments, often overlooked in previous studies.
4. Emphasis on the necessity of additional experimental data to refine PBAPs emission estimates and validate modeling studies.
5. Importance of considering PBAPs' molecular features, such as proteins attached to cell membranes, in parametrizing their ice nucleation activity.
6. Acknowledgment of the significant impact of PBAPs-cloud interactions on cloud radiative forcings, highlighting the need for comprehensive modeling.
In summary, the BIOAAT project advances understanding of PBAPs' role in climate dynamics, emphasizing the complexity of their interactions with clouds and the atmosphere.
Summary of BIOAAT Project Work:
1. GISS-E2.1 Installation: Installed GISS-E2.1 climate model on local HPC system with supervisor's help.
2. Training on GISS-E2.1: Received training on model setup, processing, and running from supervisor and NASA experts.
3. PBAPs Emission Model: Developed offline PBAPs emission model for terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
4. PBAPs Implementation: Integrated PBAPs as tracers with emissions into GISS-E2.1 for various ecosystems.
5. PBAPs Impact Study: Investigated direct and indirect impacts of PBAPs on clouds and radiation schemes.
6. Sensitivity Study: Conducted 12 scenarios to assess PBAPs impact under different emission estimates.
7. Future Simulations: Ran simulations for PBAPs emissions scenarios and future projections.
8. Ice Nucleation Parameterization: Derived parametrizations for PBAPs' ice nucleation activity.
9. Active Participation: Engaged in advanced schools on aeromicrobiology and eScience tools.
Main Project Outcomes:
1. Successful implementation of PBAPs in GISS-E2.1.
2. Sensitivity of PBAPs to emission changes in burden, deposition, and atmospheric lifetime.
3. PBAPs exhibit cooling effect via aerosol radiation interactions, especially locally.
4. PBAPs' impact on cloud radiative forcings is insignificant due to missing parameterization.
5. Importance of oceanic PBAPs in global impact due to extensive coverage.
6. Limited measurements hinder updating of PBAPs values, recommending future studies.
7. Careful consideration of experimental conditions in deriving PBAPs' ice nucleation activity.
8. Future simulations show stronger cooling impact compared to present-day scenarios.
Next Steps and Dissemination:
- Manuscripts under preparation for submission to journals.
- Results communicated in national and international conferences.
- Results to benefit aerosol-cloud interaction and climate modeling communities.
- Development to be transferred to GISS-E3 for CMIP7.
These results from 1 to 9 are in two manuscripts that are still under preparation and will be submitted in the next few months to the Journal of Geoscientific Model Development (GMD) and the Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP). The results together with the progress of the work were also communicated through more than 10 national and international conferences and seminars. Result nr 10 will be in a third manuscript that is also planned to discuss the future simulations and present the corresponding main findings.
Generally, the domain of exploitation of these results constitutes guidance and motivation for future fundamental and applicative research within the interdisciplinary field of atmospheric and climate science to better understand the climatic impacts of natural aerosol including PBAPs as well as their interactions with clouds. It should be noted that this development of GISS-E2.1 will be transferred to the next generation GISS-E3; the version that will be used for CIMP7. Therefore, aerosol-cloud interaction and climate modeling communities will generally benefit from those results as well as the GISS community.
1. GISS-E2.1 Installation: Installed GISS-E2.1 climate model on local HPC system with supervisor's help.
2. Training on GISS-E2.1: Received training on model setup, processing, and running from supervisor and NASA experts.
3. PBAPs Emission Model: Developed offline PBAPs emission model for terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
4. PBAPs Implementation: Integrated PBAPs as tracers with emissions into GISS-E2.1 for various ecosystems.
5. PBAPs Impact Study: Investigated direct and indirect impacts of PBAPs on clouds and radiation schemes.
6. Sensitivity Study: Conducted 12 scenarios to assess PBAPs impact under different emission estimates.
7. Future Simulations: Ran simulations for PBAPs emissions scenarios and future projections.
8. Ice Nucleation Parameterization: Derived parametrizations for PBAPs' ice nucleation activity.
9. Active Participation: Engaged in advanced schools on aeromicrobiology and eScience tools.
Main Project Outcomes:
1. Successful implementation of PBAPs in GISS-E2.1.
2. Sensitivity of PBAPs to emission changes in burden, deposition, and atmospheric lifetime.
3. PBAPs exhibit cooling effect via aerosol radiation interactions, especially locally.
4. PBAPs' impact on cloud radiative forcings is insignificant due to missing parameterization.
5. Importance of oceanic PBAPs in global impact due to extensive coverage.
6. Limited measurements hinder updating of PBAPs values, recommending future studies.
7. Careful consideration of experimental conditions in deriving PBAPs' ice nucleation activity.
8. Future simulations show stronger cooling impact compared to present-day scenarios.
Next Steps and Dissemination:
- Manuscripts under preparation for submission to journals.
- Results communicated in national and international conferences.
- Results to benefit aerosol-cloud interaction and climate modeling communities.
- Development to be transferred to GISS-E3 for CMIP7.
These results from 1 to 9 are in two manuscripts that are still under preparation and will be submitted in the next few months to the Journal of Geoscientific Model Development (GMD) and the Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP). The results together with the progress of the work were also communicated through more than 10 national and international conferences and seminars. Result nr 10 will be in a third manuscript that is also planned to discuss the future simulations and present the corresponding main findings.
Generally, the domain of exploitation of these results constitutes guidance and motivation for future fundamental and applicative research within the interdisciplinary field of atmospheric and climate science to better understand the climatic impacts of natural aerosol including PBAPs as well as their interactions with clouds. It should be noted that this development of GISS-E2.1 will be transferred to the next generation GISS-E3; the version that will be used for CIMP7. Therefore, aerosol-cloud interaction and climate modeling communities will generally benefit from those results as well as the GISS community.
BIOAAT advances understanding of PBAPs, emphasizing their cooling impact on climate, particularly from marine environments. However, this effect remains relatively small compared to anthropogenic emissions. Yet, in future climate projections, PBAPs' role could strengthen, suggesting socioeconomic implications. This highlights the need for further research to better assess PBAPs' impact on climate, especially in comparison to anthropogenic particles. Notably, earlier studies have not explicitly shown these climatic impacts and PBAPs' emission sensitivity. Implementing ice nucleation in future climate models could enhance aerosol-cloud interaction evaluation for CMIP7. Overall, BIOAAT represents progress in evaluating naturally emitted particles' climatic impacts and reducing associated uncertainties, crucial for understanding anthropogenic emissions in a changing climate.