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NORRUSS-Nordområdene og Russland

Emissions of Short-Lived Climate Forcers near and in the Arctic

Alternative title: Utslipp av kortlivede klimadriverne i Arktiske strøk

Awarded: NOK 4.0 mill.

Project Number:

233642

Application Type:

Project Period:

2014 - 2017

Funding received from:

Partner countries:

In addition to carbon dioxide (CO2), other greenhouse gases and aerosols play a role in climate change. The short-lived climate forcers (SLCFs) black carbon (BC) and methane (CH4), are particularly important at high latitudes and have received recent attention because reducing the concentrations of these species may help mitigate climate warming on short timescales (order of a few years). On the other hand, increased emissions of these substances could cause further warming. BC absorbs solar radiation leading to an increase in temperature. This effect is especially important over highly reflective surfaces, such as when BC is deposited on snow or ice and can accelerate melting. Important sources of CH4 and BC in the high northern latitudes may increase in a warmer climate. For example, wetlands are an important source of CH4 and their areal extent and production of CH4 may increase with warmer temperatures, and biomass burning, such as wildfires, are an important source of BC and may become more frequent and intense in a warmer climate. Furthermore, emissions of BC and CH4 from the oil and gas industry are becoming increasingly important in northern latitudes. To establish a baseline before even larger changes occur, SLICFONIA has estimated the current emissions of BC and CH4 in the Arctic and sub-Arctic. Measurements of BC in the atmosphere have been made during ship cruises in the White, Kara, Greenland and Barents Seas. In addition BC measurements in snow have been carried-out in the northern part of European Russia. These measurements, along with measurements from other Arctic stations and campaigns, have been used to validate current emission inventories, and the atmospheric data have been used in models to improve estimates of BC emissions. Measurements of CH4 and C isotope ratios (?13C-CH4) have also been made during ship cruises in the Artic. Atmospheric observations of CH4 at numerous sites across the Arctic have been used to improve estimates of the emissions and to establish if there is a trend. Furthermore, ?13C-CH4 measurements have been used to better characterize the type of emission, i.e., from wetlands or the oil and gas industry, in northern Siberia.

SLICFONIA addresses three of six priority areas of the call "Russia and the High North/Arctic": 1) Environmental monitoring ... in the Barents Sea region; 2) Improving understanding and modelling of permafrost and its impact on climate; 3) The dynamics an d drivers of climatically relevant gases. The short-lived climate forcers (SLCFs) black carbon (BC) and methane (CH4), are particularly important at high latitudes. BC absorbs solar radiation in the atmosphere, especially over highly reflective surfaces , and when it is deposited on snow/ice. CH4 emissions from wetlands and permafrost and biomass burning emissions of BC and CH4 are susceptible to high-latitude climate change. Lastly, emissions of BC and CH4 from the expanding oil and gas industry in nort hern regions are becoming increasingly important. To establish a baseline before even larger changes occur, SLICFONIA will determine the current emissions of BC and CH4 in Arctic Eurasia and, in particular, it will quantify gas flaring emissions from the oil and gas industry. The project will perform new measurements of BC in the atmosphere on the northwest coast of the White Sea, as well as measurements of BC in the atmosphere and in the snow during land expeditions in the northern part of European Russi a and during ship cruises in the White, Kara, and Barents Seas. It will use BC and CH4 data (including CH4 isotopic information) from stations on Svalbard, in Norway, Siberia and from other Arctic and high-latitude sites as well as from aircraft campaigns in Siberia. Optimal use of these data for quantifying high-latitude BC and CH4 emissions will be made through rigorous comparisons with a new emission data set coupled to a transport model and a Bayesian inversion approach. Their impact on Arctic BC and CH4 burdens will be determined.

Publications from Cristin

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Funding scheme:

NORRUSS-Nordområdene og Russland