The Dependence of Climate Sensitivity on the Meridional Distribution of Radiative Forcing

Zhang, Bosong; Zhao, Ming; He, Haozhe; Soden, Brian J.; Tan, Zhihong; Xiang, Baoqiang; Wang, Chenggong

doi:10.1029/2023GL105492

Title: The Dependence of Climate Sensitivity on the Meridional Distribution of Radiative Forcing

Journal Article · 18 September 2023 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL105492 · OSTI ID:2001019

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Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Princeton University Princeton NJ USA
NOAA/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Princeton NJ USA
Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science University of Miami Miami FL USA

Abstract This study investigates how climate sensitivity depends upon the spatial pattern of radiative forcing. Sensitivity experiments using a coupled ocean‐atmosphere model were conducted by adding anomalous incoming solar radiation over the entire globe, Northern Hemisphere mid‐latitudes, Southern Ocean, and tropics. The varied forcing patterns led to highly divergent climate sensitivities. Specifically, the climate is nearly twice as sensitive to Southern Ocean forcing as tropical forcing. Strong coupling between the surface and free troposphere in the tropics increases the inversion strength, leading to smaller cloud feedback in the tropical forcing experiments. In contrast, the extratropics exhibit weaker coupling, a decrease or near‐zero change in the inversion strength, and strong positive cloud feedback. These results contrast with the conventional SST‐pattern effect in which tropical surface temperature changes regulate climate sensitivity. They also have important implications for other potentially asymmetric forcings, such as those from geoengineering, volcanic eruptions, and paleoclimatic changes.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of Miami, FL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0021333

OSTI ID:: 2001019

Journal Information:: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 18 Vol. 50; ISSN 0094-8276

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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Title: The Dependence of Climate Sensitivity on the Meridional Distribution of Radiative Forcing

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