Climate effects of anthropogenic sulfate: Simulations from a coupled chemistry/climate model

Conference · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:10108564

Chuang, C C; Penner, J E; Taylor, K E; Walton, J J

In this paper, we use a more comprehensive approach by coupling a climate model with a 3-D global chemistry model to investigate the forcing by anthropogenic aerosol sulfate. The chemistry model treats the global-scale transport, transformation, and removal of SO{sub 2}, DMS and H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} species in the atmosphere. The mass concentration of anthropogenic sulfate from fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning is calculated in the chemistry model and provided to the climate model where it affects the shortwave radiation. We also investigate the effect, with cloud nucleation parameterized in terms of local aerosol number, sulfate mass concentration and updraft velocity. Our simulations indicate that anthropogenic sulfate may result in important increases in reflected solar radiation, which would mask locally the radiative forcing from increased greenhouse gases. Uncertainties in these results will be discussed.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 10108564
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC--114078; CONF-940115--15; ON: DE94004352; CNN: NAGW-1287
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120
AEROSOLS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHEMICALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
CLIMATE MODELS
CLOUD COVER
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DMSO
EMISSION
GREENHOUSE GASES
PRECIPITATION
SULFATES
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFURIC ACID