Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net 1680-7367 1680-7375 4 5 2004 10.5194/acpd-4-5855-2004 http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/4/5855/2004/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/4/5855/2004/acpd-4-5855-2004.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/4/5855/2004/acpd-4-5855-2004.pdf 5855 6024 2004-09-28 Organic aerosol and global climate modelling: a review M. Kanakidou mariak@chemistry.uoc.gr J. H. Seinfeld S. N. Pandis I. Barnes F. J. Dentener M. C. Facchini R. van Dingenen B. Ervens A. Nenes C. J. Nielsen E. Swietlicki J. P. Putaud Y. Balkanski S. Fuzzi J. Horth G. K. Moortgat R. Winterhalter C. E. L. Myhre K. Tsigaridis E. Vignati E. G. Stephanou J. Wilson Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Crete, P.O.Box 1470, 71409 Heraklion, Greece California Institute of Technology, 210-41, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USA Dept. of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, Patras, Greece Bergische University Wuppertal, Physical Chemistry FB C, Gauss Str. 20, 42119 Wuppertal, Germany Climate Change Unit, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, JRC, Ispra, Italy Istituto di Scienze dell’Atmosfera e del Clima – CNR, Italy Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA Schools of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332-0340 Atlanta, USA Dept. of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Div. of Nuclear Physics, Dept. of Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden LSCE, CNRS/CEA, Orme des Merisiers, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Atmospheric Chemistry Division, Mainz, Germany The present paper reviews existing knowledge with regard to Organic Aerosol (OA) of importance for global climate modelling and defines critical gaps needed to reduce the involved uncertainties. All pieces required for the representation of OA in a global climate model are sketched out with special attention to Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA): The emission estimates of primary carbonaceous particles and SOA precursor gases are summarized. The up-to-date understanding of the chemical formation and transformation of condensable organic material is outlined. Knowledge on the hygroscopicity of OA and measurements of optical properties of the organic aerosol constituents are summarized. The mechanisms of interactions of OA with clouds and dry and wet removal processes parameterisations in global models are outlined. This information is synthesized to provide a continuous analysis of the flow from the emitted material to the atmosphere up to the point of the climate impact of the produced organic aerosol. The sources of uncertainties at each step of this process are highlighted as areas that require further studies.