ACP - recent papers

1. Identifying missing sources and reducing NOx emissions uncertainty over China using daily satellite data and a mass-conserving method
   Identifying missing sources and reducing NOx emissions uncertainty over China using daily satellite data and a mass-conserving method Lingxiao Lu, Jason Blake Cohen, Kai Qin, Xiaolu Li, and Qin He Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2291–2309, https://doi.org10.5194/acp-25-2291-2025, 2025 This study applies an approach that assimilates NO2 vertical column densities from TROPOMI in a mass-conserving manner and inverts daily NOx emissions, presented over rapidly changing regions in China. Source attribution is quantified by the local thermodynamics of the combustion temperature (NOx/NO2). Emission results identify sources which do not exist in the a priori datasets, especially medium industrial sources located next to the Yangtze River.
2. Opinion: Why all emergent constraints are wrong but some are useful – a machine learning perspective
   Opinion: Why all emergent constraints are wrong but some are useful – a machine learning perspective Peer Nowack and Duncan Watson-Parris Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2365–2384, https://doi.org10.5194/acp-25-2365-2025, 2025 In our article, we review uncertainties in global climate change projections and current methods using Earth observations as constraints, which is crucial for climate risk assessments and for informing society. We then discuss how machine learning can advance the field, discussing recent work that provides potentially stronger and more robust links between observed data and future climate projections. We further discuss the challenges of applying machine learning to climate science.
3. A global dust emission dataset for estimating dust radiative forcings in climate models
   A global dust emission dataset for estimating dust radiative forcings in climate models Danny M. Leung, Jasper F. Kok, Longlei Li, David M. Lawrence, Natalie M. Mahowald, Simone Tilmes, and Erik Kluzek Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2311–2331, https://doi.org10.5194/acp-25-2311-2025, 2025 This study derives a gridded dust emission dataset for 1841–2000 by employing a combination of observed dust from core records and reanalyzed global dust cycle constraints. We evaluate the ability of global models to replicate the observed historical dust variability by using the emission dataset to force a historical simulation in an Earth system model. We show that prescribing our emissions forces the model to better match observations than other mechanistic models.
4. Burning conditions and transportation pathways determine biomass-burning aerosol properties in the Ascension Island marine boundary layer
   Burning conditions and transportation pathways determine biomass-burning aerosol properties in the Ascension Island marine boundary layer Amie Dobracki, Ernie R. Lewis, Arthur J. Sedlacek III, Tyler Tatro, Maria A. Zawadowicz, and Paquita Zuidema Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2333–2363, https://doi.org10.5194/acp-25-2333-2025, 2025 Biomass-burning aerosol is commonly present in the marine boundary layer over the southeast Atlantic Ocean between June and October. Our research indicates that burning conditions, aerosol transport pathways, and prolonged oxidation processes (heterogeneous and aqueous phases) determine the chemical, microphysical, and optical properties of the boundary layer aerosol. Notably, we find that the aerosol optical properties can be estimated from the chemical properties alone.
5. Assessing the relative impacts of satellite ozone and its precursor observations to improve global tropospheric ozone analysis using multiple chemical reanalysis systems
   Assessing the relative impacts of satellite ozone and its precursor observations to improve global tropospheric ozone analysis using multiple chemical reanalysis systems Takashi Sekiya, Emanuele Emili, Kazuyuki Miyazaki, Antje Inness, Zhen Qu, R. Bradley Pierce, Dylan Jones, Helen Worden, William Y. Y. Cheng, Vincent Huijnen, and Gerbrand Koren Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 2243–2268, https://doi.org10.5194/acp-25-2243-2025, 2025 Five global chemical reanalysis datasets were used to assess the relative impacts of assimilating satellite ozone and its precursor measurements on tropospheric ozone analyses for 2010. The multiple reanalysis system comparison allows an evaluation of the dependency of the impacts on different reanalysis systems. The results suggested the importance of satellite ozone and its precursor measurements for improving ozone analysis in the whole troposphere, with varying magnitudes among the systems.