Laboratory studies of Optical aProperties of Biomass Burning Aerosols from Sub-Sharan Africa Biomass fuels and impact on climate

There are many fuels used for domestic purposes in east Africa, producing a significant atmospheric burden of the resulting aerosols, which includes biomass burning particles. However, the aerosol physicochemical properties are poorly understood. An accurate measurement of optical properties of aerosols is critical for quantifying the effect of aerosols on climate and air quality. Uncertainties persist and measurement results vary significantly. Biomass burning (BB) aerosols have been extensively studied through both field and laboratory environments for North American fuels to understand the changes in optical and chemical properties as a function of aging. There is a clear research need for a wider sampling of fuels from different regions of the world for laboratory studies. We reports work in our laboratory that represents the first laboratory study the optical and chemical properties of wood fuel samples used commonly for domestic use in east Africa.