A study led by Anderson Da Silva and colleagues has cast doubt on the reliability of traditional backward-modeling approaches. Their findings show that standard interpretations, even when advanced analyses are used, can misattribute the sources of emissions.

To address this challenge, the team set up a modeling protocol in order to test backward modeling methods. It enabled the development of a refined method, that they then put to the test using aerosol data collected during scientific campaigns in the Arctic. This enhanced approach successfully pinpointed the origins of well-known species, including methane sulfonic acid and black carbon.

The results not only confirm the flaws in existing source tracing techniques, but also demonstrate the effectiveness of the updated method. The researchers advocate for its broader use in atmospheric studies, emphasizing its potential to significantly improve source attribution in polar climate research.