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GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 35, L19808, doi:10.1029/2008GL034894, 2008

Response of California temperature to regional anthropogenic aerosol changes

T. Novakov

Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA


T. W. Kirchstetter

Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA


S. Menon

Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA


J. Aguiar

Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA


Abstract

In this paper, we compare constructed records of concentrations of black carbon (BC) - an indicator of anthropogenic aerosols - with observed surface temperature trends in California. Annual average BC concentrations in major air basins in California significantly decreased after about 1990, coincident with an observed statewide surface temperature increase. Seasonal aerosol concentration trends are consistent with observed seasonal temperature trends. These data suggest that the reduction in anthropogenic aerosol concentrations contributed to the observed surface temperature increase. Conversely, high aerosol concentrations may lower surface temperature and partially offset the temperature increase of greenhouse gases.

Received 3 June 2008; accepted 26 August 2008; published 4 October 2008.

Keywords: aerosols.

Index Terms: 0305 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Aerosols and particles (0345, 4801, 4906); 0345 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Pollution: urban and regional (0305, 0478, 4251); 0360 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Radiation: transmission and scattering.

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Citation: Novakov, T., T. W. Kirchstetter, S. Menon, and J. Aguiar (2008), Response of California temperature to regional anthropogenic aerosol changes, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L19808, doi:10.1029/2008GL034894.