The GOCART Model Study of Aerosol Composition and Radiative Forcing

The Georgia Tech/Goddard Global Ozone Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport (GOCART) model is used to simulate sulfate, dust, carbonaceous, and sea salt aerosols. The simulations are conducted using the past, present, and future emission scenarios for sulfur and carbonaceous aerosols and their precursors. Distributions of individual aerosol components and the model calculated aerosol optical thickness for the present day are compared with observations from field experiments, ground-based sun photometer networks, and remote sensing. Radiative effects and forcing of anthropogenic aerosols for the present time and projected future will also be discussed.