GEOS-Chem-TOMAS model output for 2019-2020

The model output contained in this dataset is created using GEOS-Chem-TOMAS simulations using the GFAS biomass burning emission inventory for 2019 and 2020. We test three biomass burning plume injection height (BB-PIH) scenarios: well-mixed into the planetary boundary layer, and two scenarios using GFAS estimates of plume injection height. Those three simulations are used in the creation of this dataset. The following is a brief summary of the key results of the study. Elevating BB-PIH increases the simulated global-mean aerosol optical depth (10%) despite a global-mean decrease (1%) in near-surface PM2.5. Increasing the tropospheric column mass yields enhanced cooling by the global-mean clear-sky biomass burning direct radiative effect. However, increasing BB-PIH places more smoke above clouds in some regions; thus, the all-sky biomass burning direct radiative effect has weaker cooling in these regions as a result of increasing the BB-PIH. Elevating the BB-PIH increases the simulated global-mean cloud condensation nuclei concentrations at low-cloud altitudes, strengthening the global-mean cooling of the biomass burning aerosol indirect effect with a more than doubling over marine areas. Elevating BB-PIH also generally improves model agreement with the satellite-retrieved total and smoke extinction coefficient profiles. Our two-year global simulations with new BB-PIH capability enable understanding of the global-scale impacts of BB-PIH modeling on simulated air quality and radiative effects, going beyond the current understanding limited to specific biomass burning regions and seasons.

Methods
This dataset contains 3 netCDF files. Each file is for a different configuration of biomass burning plume injection height in GEOS-Chem-TOMAS. GCT_Output_PBL contains the output for the default configuration, where all biomass burning emissions are emitted into the planetary boundary layer. GCT_Output_STANDARD contains the output for the simulation using the GFAS altitude of the plume bottom and the plume top. GCT_Output_HIGHER contains the output for the simulation using the GFAS plume heights to calculate plume depth, but placing the bottom of the plume at the GFAS altitude of the plume top.