Persistent Polar Ocean Warming in a Strategically Geoengineered Climate

Fasullo, John; Tilmes, S; Richter, Jadwiga; Kravitz, Benjamin S.; MacMartin, Douglas; Mills, Mike; Simpson, Isla

doi:10.1038/s41561-018-0249-7

Persistent Polar Ocean Warming in a Strategically Geoengineered Climate

Journal Article · Fri Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 2018 · Nature Geoscience

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-018-0249-7· OSTI ID:1598877

Fasullo, John ^[1]; Tilmes, S ^[2]; Richter, Jadwiga ^[1]; ^[3]; MacMartin, Douglas ^[4]; Mills, Mike ^[1]; Simpson, Isla ^[5]

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
National Center for Atmospheric Research, PO Box 3000-80307,
BATTELLE (PACIFIC NW LAB)
Cornell University
National Center for Atmospheric Research

A novel geoengineering approach designed to moderate the effects of continued greenhouse gas emissions is examined in a large ensemble of 21st century climate simulations. Stratospheric sulfur injections are imposed at discrete latitudes of 15° and 30° in both hemispheres with the aim of minimizing changes in surface temperature, both in the global mean and in its gradients between hemispheres and from equator to pole. The approach successfully accomplishes these goals and reduces several major adverse impacts found in earlier geoengineering applications, such as overcooling the tropics and weakening rainfall over land. Nonetheless, responses over ocean are identified that drive shifts in the global ocean circulation and structure. The responses result in an acceleration of the meridional overturning circulation in the Atlantic Ocean and continued warming of the deep and polar oceans, particularly in the vicinity of southern Greenland, with the potential to drive continued cryospheric melt and global sea level rise. Related changes in tropical rainfall are also identified. Despite a successful moderation of surface warming and reduction of the planetary energy imbalance, these simulations demonstrate the potential complexity of the coupled climate response to geoengineering implementations, highlighting the need for significant advances in our understanding of the coupled climate system and the continued refinement of such strategies as a prerequisite to their successful implementation.

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

DOE Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1598877

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-132504

Journal Information:: Nature Geoscience, Journal Name: Nature Geoscience Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 11

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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