Particle Emissions from Aviation: Microphysics, Chemistry, and Climate Impact

Abstract

The physical and chemical properties of particles emitted from aviation were identified under cruise altitude conditions and with more detailed methods during ground-test studies. The quantification of emissions for various aircraft resulted in a validated average emission index for particulate black carbon which is today widely used for the calculation of the aviation-related particle emissions in climate models and impact studies. The connection of particle chemical and physical properties with the potential activation of combustion particles for the formation of cloud droplets will promote the understanding of the aerosol-cloud interaction concerning combustion particles. Furthermore, a robust method for the measurement of aerosol light absorption and thus for black carbon was developed and evaluated. First data on black carbon in the free troposphere over central Europe were used in combination with the determined particle emission factors for aircraft engines for estimating the climate impact of particle emissions from aviation. The estimated magnitude of the expected aerosol radiative forcing is in close agreement with recent results from the European project TRADEOFF.