Standardisation of black carbon aerosol metrics for air quality and climate modelling

Abstract

Black carbon (BC) is an air pollutant that contributes to climate forcing, reduced crop yields and impacts on our health. Produced by incomplete combustion of transport and other fossil fuels, air quality networks have been set-up to monitor its mass concentration and legally binding procedures are in place to identify and treat emission sources. Networks measure equivalent Black Carbon (eBC) mass concentrations in real time with light absorption photometers, but traceability is incomplete, uncertainties are poorly understood, and robust documentary standards are lacking. This project will address these needs and via input into normative standards aims to generate greater reliability for measurements of this important air pollutant.