Andrews, T, Gregory, JM, Forster, PM et al. (1 more author) (2012) Cloud adjustment and its role in CO 2 radiative forcing and climate sensitivity: a review. Surveys in Geophysics, 33 (3-4). 619 - 635. ISSN 0169-3298
Abstract
Understanding the role of clouds in climate change remains a considerable challenge. Traditionally, this challenge has been framed in terms of understanding cloud feedback. However, recent work suggests that under increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, clouds not only amplify or dampen climate change through global feedback processes, but also through rapid (days to weeks) tropospheric temperature and land surface adjustments. In this article, we use the Met Office Hadley Centre climate model HadGSM1 to review these recent developments and assess their impact on radiative forcing and equilibrium climate sensitivity. We estimate that cloud adjustment contributes ~0.8 K to the 4.4 K equilibrium climate sensitivity of this particular model. We discuss the methods used to evaluate cloud adjustments, highlight the mechanisms and processes involved and identify low level cloudiness as a key cloud type. Looking forward, we discuss the outstanding issues, such as the application to transient forcing scenarios. We suggest that the upcoming CMIP5 multi-model database will allow a comprehensive assessment of the significance of cloud adjustments in fully coupled atmosphere-ocean-general-circulation models for the first time, and that future research should exploit this opportunity to understand cloud adjustments/feedbacks in non-idealised transient climate change scenarios.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) The Author(s) 2011. Reproduced in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Climate sensitivity; Cloud feedback; Radiative forcing; Tropospheric adjustment |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number NERC NE/E016189/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 13 Mar 2015 11:48 |
Last Modified: | 28 Jan 2018 12:16 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10712-011-9152-0 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Springer |
Identification Number: | 10.1007/s10712-011-9152-0 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:83148 |