Large regional shortwave forcing by anthropogenic methane informed by Jovian observations

Collins, William D.; Feldman, Daniel R.; Kuo, Chaincy; Nguyen, Newton H.

doi:10.1126/sciadv.aas9593

Title: Large regional shortwave forcing by anthropogenic methane informed by Jovian observations

Journal Article · 25 September 2018 · Science Advances

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aas9593 · OSTI ID:1506363

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Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
California Inst. of Technology, Pasadena, CA (United States)

Recently, it was recognized that widely used calculations of methane radiative forcing systematically underestimated its global value by 15% by omitting its shortwave effects. We show that shortwave forcing by methane can be accurately calculated despite considerable uncertainty and large gaps in its shortwave spectroscopy. We demonstrate that the forcing is insensitive, even when confronted with much more complete methane absorption spectra extending to violet light wavelengths derived from observations of methane-rich Jovian planets. We undertake the first spatially resolved global calculations of this forcing and find that it is dependent on bright surface features and clouds. Localized annual mean forcing from preindustrial to present-day methane increases approaches +0.25 W/m², 10 times the global annualized shortwave forcing and 43% of the total direct CH₄ forcing. Shortwave forcing by anthropogenic methane is sufficiently large and accurate to warrant its inclusion in historical analyses, projections, and mitigation strategies for climate change.

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231

OSTI ID:: 1506363

Journal Information:: Science Advances, Journal Name: Science Advances Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 4; ISSN 2375-2548

Publisher:: AAASCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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