Short-lived climate forcers (SLCFs), including aerosols, ozone, and methane, strongly influence the global radiation budget. Depending on their size and composition, aerosols scatter and absorb solar radiation and act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN), while methane and ozone absorb long-wave radiation and function as greenhouse gases.
SLCFs originate from both anthropogenic and natural sources. Aerosols may be directly emitted or formed from precursor gases through photochemical oxidation. Although anthropogenic SLCF emissions are declining in many countries, climate change affects the production of natural aerosols and their precursors through feedback mechanisms. Arctic warming also increases methane emissions via permafrost thaw. Our research investigates how these changes influence future Arctic climate and affect mid-latitudes through teleconnections.
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Relevant links: http://villumresearchstation.dk/, https://projects.au.dk/cleancloud
Keywords: SLCFs, atmospheric particles, precursor gases, ozone, methane, direct and indirect aerosol climate effects, aerosol-cloud interactions, long-range transport of pollution, Arctic haze, natural aerosols, feedback mechanisms
