Prof. Xuan Wang’s Study Investigates a New Warming Agent Contributing to Global Climate Change

Prof. Xuan Wang has successfully published his research paper, titled “Dark Brown Carbon from Biomass Burning Contributes to Significant Global-Scale Positive Forcing” in One Earth. This study represents a significant achievement in climate science, shedding light on the substantial warming impact of dark brown carbon, a factor not previously considered in current climate assessments.

Biomass burning from forest fires and agricultural activities releases particles that can absorb sunlight and contribute to climate warming. These organic compounds, known as brown carbon, have traditionally been viewed as soluble in common solvents, not very efficient at absorbing visible light, and susceptible to photobleaching, resulting in a relatively small warming effect. In this study, Prof. Wang and his collaborators reveal that biomass burning emits a distinct class of brown carbon, dark brown carbon, which is water-insoluble and capable of absorbing both visible and near-infrared radiation.

The study presents a global model simulation to quantify the contribution of dark brown carbon to solar absorption. It demonstrates that dark brown carbon can cause a substantial amount of atmospheric warming, a factor that has been overlooked in current climate models. Including this new absorbing particle also resolves some discrepancies with atmospheric measurements that have not been previously explained by other factors.

The study identifies dark brown carbon as a critical global climate forcer. Given that the frequency and intensity of fires are increasing worldwide due to both human activities and climate change, its warming effect is likely to become even more significant in the future. These findings have the potential to improve climate assessments and help inform mitigation policies targeting emissions from biomass burning.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101205