Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Comparison of Climate Response to Anthropogenic Aerosol versus Greenhouse Gas Forcing: Distinct Patterns

Hai Wang Physical Oceanography Laboratory/Qingdao Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology, and Ocean–Atmosphere Interaction and Climate Laboratory, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California

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Shang-Ping Xie Physical Oceanography Laboratory/Qingdao Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology, and Ocean–Atmosphere Interaction and Climate Laboratory, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California

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Qinyu Liu Physical Oceanography Laboratory/Qingdao Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology, and Ocean–Atmosphere Interaction and Climate Laboratory, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China

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Print Publication:
15 Jul 2016
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-16-0106.1
Page(s):
5175–5188
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Abstract

Spatial patterns of climate response to changes in anthropogenic aerosols and well-mixed greenhouse gases (GHGs) are investigated using climate model simulations for the twentieth century. The climate response shows both similarities and differences in spatial pattern between aerosol and GHG runs. Common climate response between aerosol and GHG runs tends to be symmetric about the equator. This work focuses on the distinctive patterns that are unique to the anthropogenic aerosol forcing. The tropospheric cooling induced by anthropogenic aerosols is locally enhanced in the midlatitude Northern Hemisphere with a deep vertical structure around 40°N, anchoring a westerly acceleration in thermal wind balance. The aerosol-induced negative radiative forcing in the Northern Hemisphere requires a cross-equatorial Hadley circulation to compensate interhemispheric energy imbalance in the atmosphere. Associated with a southward shift of the intertropical convergence zone, this interhemispheric asymmetric mode is unique to aerosol forcing and absent in GHG runs. Comparison of key climate response pattern indices indicates that the aerosol forcing dominates the interhemispheric asymmetric climate response in historical all-forcing simulations, as well as regional precipitation change such as the drying trend over the East Asian monsoon region. While GHG forcing dominates global mean surface temperature change, its effect is on par with and often opposes the aerosol effect on precipitation, making it difficult to detect anthropogenic change in rainfall from historical observations.

Corresponding author address: Shang-Ping Xie, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 206, La Jolla, CA 92093-0206. E-mail: sxie@ucsd.edu

Abstract

Spatial patterns of climate response to changes in anthropogenic aerosols and well-mixed greenhouse gases (GHGs) are investigated using climate model simulations for the twentieth century. The climate response shows both similarities and differences in spatial pattern between aerosol and GHG runs. Common climate response between aerosol and GHG runs tends to be symmetric about the equator. This work focuses on the distinctive patterns that are unique to the anthropogenic aerosol forcing. The tropospheric cooling induced by anthropogenic aerosols is locally enhanced in the midlatitude Northern Hemisphere with a deep vertical structure around 40°N, anchoring a westerly acceleration in thermal wind balance. The aerosol-induced negative radiative forcing in the Northern Hemisphere requires a cross-equatorial Hadley circulation to compensate interhemispheric energy imbalance in the atmosphere. Associated with a southward shift of the intertropical convergence zone, this interhemispheric asymmetric mode is unique to aerosol forcing and absent in GHG runs. Comparison of key climate response pattern indices indicates that the aerosol forcing dominates the interhemispheric asymmetric climate response in historical all-forcing simulations, as well as regional precipitation change such as the drying trend over the East Asian monsoon region. While GHG forcing dominates global mean surface temperature change, its effect is on par with and often opposes the aerosol effect on precipitation, making it difficult to detect anthropogenic change in rainfall from historical observations.

Corresponding author address: Shang-Ping Xie, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 206, La Jolla, CA 92093-0206. E-mail: sxie@ucsd.edu
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