We have a new publication on the calibration of #BlackCarbon monitors. We have done a systematic evaluation of almost all filter-based absorption photometers (FBAP) available vs. a photo-thermal interferometer (reference instrument).
We have a new publication on the calibration of #BlackCarbon monitors. We have done a systematic evaluation of almost all filter-based absorption photometers (FBAP) available vs. a photo-thermal interferometer (reference instrument).
✈️ Contrail cirrus are one of the main issues of aviation emission due to their positive radiative forcing. Researchers have found that sulfur and volatile organic compounds are the main cause of ice crystal formation – rather than soot as previously thought.
https://www.dlr.de/en/latest/news/2026/contrails-beyond-soot
new paper: "Black carbon is detectable in association with small extracellular vesicles in fetal circulation" https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110186
"Here we show that black carbon (BC) is detectable in association with small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) in fetal circulation and in tissue-enriched sEV subsets."
You can still submit your abstract to the International Aerosol Conference 2026 to take place in Xi'an, China.
Submission deadline has been extended to 15 March 2026 ℹ️
Join our session – B-6: Standardisation and traceability for the measurement of #BlackCarbon by means of optical methods ⚫
🧑🔬 Our last publication from last year:
We put together tens of studies on the mass absorption cross section (MAC) of atmospheric #BlackCarbon aerosols. Large uncertainties in MAC values are mostly due to artifacts of the measurement techniques.
An accurate assessment of black carbon (BC) climate and health impacts requires knowledge of its mass absorption cross-section (MACBC) – a parameter linking optical and mass measurements. The mean MACBC for freshly emitted soot typically spans a narrow range of 8 ± 1 m2 g⁻1 at 550 nm1,2 but is modified by subsequent atmospheric aging. Determination of MACBC requires simultaneous measurements of aerosol light-absorption coefficient (βabs) and BC mass. Here, we compile 230 measured MACBC values from 80 atmospheric studies and explore the effects of sampling location, study duration, instrumentation, and measurement wavelength. The compiled data set shows a broad variability in MACBC values (a factor of about 200%). We conclude that this variability is attributable to a combination of the above-mentioned effects with additional instrumental uncertainties (e.g., cross-sensitivities and/or inadequate instrument calibration). The current state of knowledge does not support the use of simplistic generalizations or assumptions about MACBC in the atmosphere, motivating a recommendation to further improve and standardize measurement practices.
We are glad to announce that we will be chairing a session at the 2026 International Aerosol Conference #IAC2026. The session will focus on the #standardisation and traceability of #BlackCarbon measurements using optical methods. I am happy to be doing this with my collaborators, Kostas Eleftheriadis and Yue Liu.
We look forward to receiving your contributions! 📄
http://www.iac2026.cn/?sid=3742&mid=954&v=100#!c/show/a/index/
Image credit: Samule Sun