Comment on "Radiative absorption enhancements due to the mixing state of atmospheric black carbon".
Cappa et al. (Reports, 31 August 2012, p. 1078) suggest that black carbon (BC) in a mixture absorbs only ~6% more sunlight than when volatile chemicals are evaporated from the mixture, and state that "many climate models may overestimate warming by BC." However, the authors misinterpret at least some model results and omit optical focusing at high relative humidity and of involatile components. Thus, their conclusion about model error is not demonstrated.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-4020, USA. jacobson@stanford.edu
Mark Z
MZ
Jacobson
D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry*; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D057232:Global Warming; D008027:Light; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D053260:Soot / Q000737:chemistry*
D053260:Soot; D002244:Carbon