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Title: The role of clouds and oceans in global greenhouse warming. Final report

Abstract

This research focuses on assessing connections between anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and global climatic change. it has been supported since the early 1990s in part by the DOE ``Quantitative Links`` Program (QLP). A three-year effort was originally proposed to the QLP to investigate effects f global cloudiness on global climate and its implications for cloud feedback; and to continue the development and application of climate/ocean models, with emphasis on coupled effects of greenhouse warming and feedbacks by clouds and oceans. It is well-known that cloud and ocean processes are major sources of uncertainty in the ability to predict climatic change from humankind`s greenhouse gas and aerosol emissions. And it has always been the objective to develop timely and useful analytical tools for addressing real world policy issues stemming from anthropogenic climate change.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
New York Univ., NY (United States). Dept. of Physics
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
418441
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/61014-T2
ON: DE97001771; TRN: AHC29702%%51
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-90ER61014
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Oct 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; GREENHOUSE EFFECT; FORECASTING; GREENHOUSE GASES; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS; PROGRESS REPORT; GLOBAL ASPECTS; CLIMATE MODELS; METEOROLOGY; SEAS; AIR-WATER INTERACTIONS

Citation Formats

Hoffert, M.I.. The role of clouds and oceans in global greenhouse warming. Final report. United States: N. p., 1996. Web. doi:10.2172/418441.
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Hoffert, M.I.. The role of clouds and oceans in global greenhouse warming. Final report. United States. doi:10.2172/418441.
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Hoffert, M.I.. Tue . "The role of clouds and oceans in global greenhouse warming. Final report". United States. doi:10.2172/418441. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/418441.
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@article{osti_418441,
title = {The role of clouds and oceans in global greenhouse warming. Final report},
author = {Hoffert, M.I.},
abstractNote = {This research focuses on assessing connections between anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and global climatic change. it has been supported since the early 1990s in part by the DOE ``Quantitative Links`` Program (QLP). A three-year effort was originally proposed to the QLP to investigate effects f global cloudiness on global climate and its implications for cloud feedback; and to continue the development and application of climate/ocean models, with emphasis on coupled effects of greenhouse warming and feedbacks by clouds and oceans. It is well-known that cloud and ocean processes are major sources of uncertainty in the ability to predict climatic change from humankind`s greenhouse gas and aerosol emissions. And it has always been the objective to develop timely and useful analytical tools for addressing real world policy issues stemming from anthropogenic climate change.},
doi = {10.2172/418441},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996},
month = {Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996}
}
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Technical Report:
View Technical Report (21.27 MB)
DOI:  10.2172/418441
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  • The overall objectives of this project has been to exploit empirical data from atmospheric measurements, satellite data and paleoclimatic reconstructions to derive the role of cloud radiative forcing on the historical global temperature record and on projections of global warming from greenhouse gases during the coming decades. Our work has involved data analysis and modelling tasks involving both atmospheric radiation and ocean modelling. A major accomplishment this past year has been the derivation of global climate sensitivity and the cloud radiative feedback from a new analysis of paleoclimatic data. A detailed discussion of this work and it implications is givenmore » as the appendix to this Progress Report. Some additional research planning considerations are discussed below.« less

  • During the past three years we have conducted several studies using models and a combination of satellite data, in situ meteorological and oceanic data, and paleoclimate reconstructions, under the DoE program, Quantifying the Link Between Change in Radiative Balance and Atmospheric Temperature''. Our goals were to investigate effects of global cloudiness variations on global climate and their implications for cloud feedback and continue development and application of NYU transient climate/ocean models, with emphasis on coupled effects of greenhouse warming and feedbacks by both the clouds and oceans. Our original research plan emphasized the use of cloud, surface temperature and oceanmore » data sets interpreted by focused climate/ocean models to develop a cloud radiative forcing scenario for the past 100 years and to assess the transient climate response; to narrow key uncertainties in the system; and to identify those aspects of the climate system most likely to be affected by greenhouse warming over short, medium and long time scales.« less

  • The overall objectives of this project has been to exploit empirical data from atmospheric measurements, satellite data and paleoclimatic reconstructions to derive the role of cloud radiative forcing on the historical global temperature record and on projections of global warming from greenhouse gases during the coming decades. Our work has involved data analysis and modelling tasks involving both atmospheric radiation and ocean modelling. A major accomplishment this past year has been the derivation of global climate sensitivity and the cloud radiative feedback from a new analysis of paleoclimatic data. A detailed discussion of this work and it implications is givenmore » as the appendix to this Progress Report. Some additional research planning considerations are discussed below.« less

  • During the past three years we have conducted several studies using models and a combination of satellite data, in situ meteorological and oceanic data, and paleoclimate reconstructions, under the DoE program, ``Quantifying the Link Between Change in Radiative Balance and Atmospheric Temperature``. Our goals were to investigate effects of global cloudiness variations on global climate and their implications for cloud feedback and continue development and application of NYU transient climate/ocean models, with emphasis on coupled effects of greenhouse warming and feedbacks by both the clouds and oceans. Our original research plan emphasized the use of cloud, surface temperature and oceanmore » data sets interpreted by focused climate/ocean models to develop a cloud radiative forcing scenario for the past 100 years and to assess the transient climate response; to narrow key uncertainties in the system; and to identify those aspects of the climate system most likely to be affected by greenhouse warming over short, medium and long time scales.« less

  • ;
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