scholarly journals The Effects of the Spatial Distribution of Direct Anthropogenic Aerosols Radiative Forcing on Atmospheric Circulation

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (17) ◽  
pp. 7129-7145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rei Chemke ◽  
Guy Dagan
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
Northern Hemisphere ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Hadley Cell ◽  
Global Circulation Model ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosols

The large uncertainty in estimating the global aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) is one of the major challenges the climate community faces for climate projection. While the global-mean ARF may affect global quantities such as surface temperature, its spatial distribution may result in local thermodynamical and, thus, dynamical changes. Future changes in aerosol emissions distribution could further modulate the atmospheric circulation. Here, the effects of the spatial distribution of the direct anthropogenic ARF are studied using an idealized global circulation model, forced by a range of estimated-ARF amplitudes, based on the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service data. The spatial distribution of the estimated-ARF is globally decomposed, and the effects of the different modes on the circulation are studied. The most dominant spatial distribution feature is the cooling of the Northern Hemisphere in comparison to the Southern Hemisphere. This induces a negative meridional temperature gradient around the equator, which modulates the mean fields in the tropics. The ITCZ weakens and shifts southward, and the Northern (Southern) Hemisphere Hadley cell strengthens (weakens). The localization of the ARF in the Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes shifts the subtropical jet poleward and strengthens both the eddy-driven jet and Ferrel cell, because of the weakening of high-latitude eddy fluxes. Finally, the larger aerosol concentration in Asia compared to North America results in an equatorial superrotating jet. Understanding the effects of the different modes on the general circulation may help elucidate the circulation’s future response to the projected changes in ARF distribution.

Zonal Wave 3 Pattern in the Southern Hemisphere generated by tropical convection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rishav Goyal ◽  
Martin Jucker ◽  
Alex Sen Gupta ◽  
Harry Hendon ◽  
Matthew England
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Hadley Cell ◽  
Wave Source ◽  
The Tropics

Abstract A distinctive feature of the Southern Hemisphere (SH) extratropical atmospheric circulation is the quasi-stationary zonal wave 3 (ZW3) pattern, characterized by three high and three low-pressure centers around the SH extratropics. This feature is present in both the mean atmospheric circulation and its variability on daily, seasonal and interannual timescales. While the ZW3 pattern has significant impacts on meridional heat transport and Antarctic sea ice extent, the reason for its existence remains uncertain, although it has long been assumed to be linked to the existence of three major land masses in the SH extratropics. Here we use an atmospheric general circulation model to show that the stationery ZW3 pattern is instead driven by zonal asymmetric deep atmospheric convection in the tropics, with little to no role played by the orography or land masses in the extratropics. Localized regions of deep convection in the tropics form a local Hadley cell which in turn creates a wave source in the subtropics that excites a poleward and eastward propagating wave train which forms stationary waves in the SH high latitudes. Our findings suggest that changes in tropical deep convection, either due to natural variability or climate change, will impact the zonal wave 3 pattern, with implications for Southern Hemisphere climate, ocean circulation, and sea-ice.

Tropical Connections to Climatic Change in the Extratropical Southern Hemisphere: The Role of Atlantic SST Trends

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (13) ◽  
pp. 4923-4936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham R. Simpkins ◽  
Shayne McGregor ◽  
Andréa S. Taschetto ◽  
Laura M. Ciasto ◽  
Matthew H. England
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Change ◽  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
Geopotential Height ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Rossby Waves ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Hadley Cell ◽  
Austral Spring ◽  
The Impact

The austral spring relationships between sea surface temperature (SST) trends and the Southern Hemisphere (SH) extratropical atmospheric circulation are investigated using an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM). A suite of simulations are analyzed wherein the AGCM is forced by underlying SST conditions in which recent trends are constrained to individual ocean basins (Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic), allowing the impact of each region to be assessed in isolation. When forced with observed global SST, the model broadly replicates the spatial pattern of extratropical SH geopotential height trends seen in reanalyses. However, when forcing by each ocean basin separately, similar structures arise only when Atlantic SST trends are included. It is further shown that teleconnections from the Atlantic are associated with perturbations to the zonal Walker circulation and the corresponding intensification of the local Hadley cell, the impact of which results in the development of atmospheric Rossby waves. Thus, increased Rossby waves, forced by positive Atlantic SST trends, may have played a role in driving geopotential height trends in the SH extratropics. Furthermore, these atmospheric circulation changes promote warming throughout the Antarctic Peninsula and much of West Antarctica, with a pattern that closely matches recent observational records. This suggests that Atlantic SST trends, via a teleconnection to the SH extratropics, may have contributed to springtime climatic change in the SH extratropics over the past three decades.

scholarly journals Climatic effects of 1950–2050 changes in US anthropogenic aerosols – Part 1: Aerosol trends and radiative forcing

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 24085-24125 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. Leibensperger ◽  
L. J. Mickley ◽  
D. J. Jacob ◽  
W.-T. Chen ◽  
J. H. Seinfeld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
So2 Emissions ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosols ◽  
Climatic Effects ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosol ◽  
Direct Forcing

Abstract. We use the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model combined with the GISS general circulation model to calculate the aerosol direct and indirect (warm cloud) radiative forcings from US anthropogenic sources over the 1950–2050 period, based on historical emission inventories and future projections from the IPCC A1B scenario. The aerosol simulation is evaluated with observed spatial distributions and 1980–2010 trends of aerosol concentrations and wet deposition in the contiguous US. The radiative forcing from US anthropogenic aerosols is strongly localized over the eastern US. We find that it peaked in 1970–1990, with values over the eastern US (east of 100° W) of −2.0 W m−2 for direct forcing including contributions from sulfate (−2.0 W m−2), nitrate (−0.2 W m−2), organic carbon (−0.2 W m−2), and black carbon (+0.4 W m−2). The aerosol indirect effect is of comparable magnitude to the direct forcing. We find that the forcing declined sharply from 1990 to 2010 (by 0.8 W m−2 direct and 1.0 W m−2 indirect), mainly reflecting decreases in SO2 emissions, and project that it will continue declining post-2010 but at a much slower rate since US SO2 emissions have already declined by almost 60 % from their peak. This suggests that much of the warming effect of reducing US anthropogenic aerosol sources may have already been realized by 2010, however some additional warming is expected through 2020. The small positive radiative forcing from US BC emissions (+0.3 W m−2 over the eastern US in 2010) suggests that an emission control strategy focused on BC would have only limited climate benefit.

scholarly journals Atmospheric impact of the 1783–1784 Laki Eruption: Part II Climatic effect of sulphate aerosol

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 1177-1189 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.-J. Highwood ◽  
D. S. Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
Northern Hemisphere ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Model Simulation ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Climate Response ◽  
Sulphate Aerosol ◽  
Cold Temperatures ◽  
Direct Radiative Forcing ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The long 1783-1784 eruption of Laki in southern Iceland, was one of the first eruptions to have been linked to an observed climate anomaly, having been held responsible for cold temperatures over much of the Northern Hemisphere in the period 1783-1785. Results from the first climate model simulation of the impact of a similar eruption to that of 1783-1784 are presented. Using sulphate aerosol fields produced in a companion chemical transport model simulation by Stevenson et al. (2003), the radiative forcing and climate response due to the aerosol are calculated here using the Reading Intermediate General Circulation Model (IGCM). The peak Northern Hemisphere mean direct radiative forcing is -5.5 Wm-2 in August 1783. The radiative forcing dies away quickly as the emissions from the volcano decrease; however, a small forcing remains over the Mediterranean until March 1784. There is little forcing in the Southern Hemisphere. There is shown to be an uncertainty of at least 50% in the direct radiative forcing due to assumptions concerning relative humidity and the sophistication of the radiative transfer code used. The indirect effects of the Laki aerosol are potentially large but essentially unquantifiable at the present time. In the IGCM at least, the aerosol from the eruption produces a climate response that is spatially very variable. The Northern Hemisphere mean temperature anomaly averaged over the whole of the calendar year containing most of the eruption is -0.21 K, statistically significant at the 95% level and in reasonable agreement with the available observations of the temperature during 1783.

scholarly journals Forced Atmospheric Teleconnections during 1979–2014

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 2333-2357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Zhang ◽  
Martin P. Hoerling ◽  
Judith Perlwitz ◽  
Taiyi Xu
Keyword(s):  
Northern Hemisphere ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Decadal Variability ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Wave Train ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Internal Variability ◽  
Atmospheric Teleconnections

Abstract Forced atmospheric teleconnections during 1979–2014 are examined using a 50-member ensemble of atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) simulations subjected to observed variations in sea surface temperatures (SSTs), sea ice, and carbon dioxide. Three primary modes of forced variability are identified using empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of the ensemble mean wintertime extratropical Northern Hemisphere 500-hPa heights. The principal component time series of the first and second modes are highly correlated with Niño-3.4 and trans-Niño (TNI) SST indices, respectively, indicating mostly tropical sources. Their impacts are largely confined to the Pacific–North American (PNA) sector. The leading mode describes the canonical atmospheric teleconnection associated with El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) resembling the tropical/Northern Hemisphere pattern. The second mode describes a wave train resembling the classic PNA pattern resulting from atmospheric sensitivity to ENSO asymmetry and from sensitivity to a tropical precursor SST for ENSO development. The third mode is characterized by a hemisphere-scale increasing trend in heights. Based on a comparison with 50-member coupled ocean–atmosphere model simulations, it is argued that this mode is strongly related to radiatively forced climate change, while the other two forced teleconnections are principally related to internal coupled variability. A trend in the leading forced mode is related to ENSO-like decadal variability and dominates the overall observed 500-hPa height trend since 1979. These model results indicate that the trend in the first mode is due to internal variability rather than external radiative forcing.

scholarly journals Tropospheric Double Jets, Meridional Cells, and Eddies: A Case Study and Idealized Simulations

2007 ◽  
Vol 135 (9) ◽  
pp. 3118-3133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabella Bordi ◽  
Klaus Fraedrich ◽  
Frank Lunkeit ◽  
Alfonso Sutera
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Baroclinic Instability ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Hadley Cell ◽  
Zonal Wind Anomaly ◽  
Subtropical Jet ◽  
Low Frequency Variability ◽  
Summer Hemisphere

Abstract The observed low-frequency variability of the zonally averaged atmospheric circulation in the winter hemisphere is found to be amenable to an interpretation where the subtropical jet is flanked by a secondary midlatitude one. Observations also suggest that the link between the stratosphere and the troposphere modulates the variability of the tropospheric double-jet structure. Moreover, the summer hemisphere is characterized by a strong midlatitude jet sided by an intermittent subtropical one and easterly winds in the stratosphere. This work addresses the question about the role of eddies in generating and maintaining these key features of the general circulation by means of a simplified general circulation model. Model solutions for different parameter settings and external radiative forcings in the stratosphere are studied with and without eddies active on the system. The following main findings are noted. 1) Eddy dynamics alone, through the baroclinic instability processes in an atmosphere subjected to radiative forcing and dissipation, may account for the observed meridional variance of the tropospheric jets. 2) The Hadley cell can extend to the pole overlying the Ferrel cell, a feature supported by observations in the summer hemisphere. 3) The meridional temperature gradient reversal in the summer stratosphere contributes to the observed low-frequency variability introducing an intermittent formation of a subtropical jet and the occurrence of easterlies in the tropical stratosphere. 4) Poleward propagation of the zonal wind anomaly is, when it occurs, related to the activity of synoptic eddies.

scholarly journals Climatic effects of 1950–2050 changes in US anthropogenic aerosols – Part 1: Aerosol trends and radiative forcing

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 3333-3348 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. Leibensperger ◽  
L. J. Mickley ◽  
D. J. Jacob ◽  
W.-T. Chen ◽  
J. H. Seinfeld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Radiative Properties ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
So2 Emissions ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosols ◽  
Climatic Effects ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosol ◽  
Direct Forcing

Abstract. We calculate decadal aerosol direct and indirect (warm cloud) radiative forcings from US anthropogenic sources over the 1950–2050 period. Past and future aerosol distributions are constructed using GEOS-Chem and historical emission inventories and future projections from the IPCC A1B scenario. Aerosol simulations are evaluated with observed spatial distributions and 1980–2010 trends of aerosol concentrations and wet deposition in the contiguous US. Direct and indirect radiative forcing is calculated using the GISS general circulation model and monthly mean aerosol distributions from GEOS-Chem. The radiative forcing from US anthropogenic aerosols is strongly localized over the eastern US. We find that its magnitude peaked in 1970–1990, with values over the eastern US (east of 100° W) of −2.0 W m−2 for direct forcing including contributions from sulfate (−2.0 W m−2), nitrate (−0.2 W m−2), organic carbon (−0.2 W m−2), and black carbon (+0.4 W m−2). The uncertainties in radiative forcing due to aerosol radiative properties are estimated to be about 50%. The aerosol indirect effect is estimated to be of comparable magnitude to the direct forcing. We find that the magnitude of the forcing declined sharply from 1990 to 2010 (by 0.8 W m−2 direct and 1.0 W m−2 indirect), mainly reflecting decreases in SO2 emissions, and project that it will continue declining post-2010 but at a much slower rate since US SO2 emissions have already declined by almost 60% from their peak. This suggests that much of the warming effect of reducing US anthropogenic aerosol sources has already been realized. The small positive radiative forcing from US BC emissions (+0.3 W m−2 over the eastern US in 2010; 5% of the global forcing from anthropogenic BC emissions worldwide) suggests that a US emission control strategy focused on BC would have only limited climate benefit.

scholarly journals Climatic effects of 1950–2050 changes in US anthropogenic aerosols – Part 2: Climate response

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 24127-24164 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. Leibensperger ◽  
L. J. Mickley ◽  
D. J. Jacob ◽  
W.-T. Chen ◽  
J. H. Seinfeld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Climate Response ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosols ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosol ◽  
The Us ◽  
Aerosol Sources

Abstract. We investigate the climate response to US anthropogenic aerosol sources over the 1950 to 2050 period by using the NASA GISS general circulation model (GCM) and comparing to observed US temperature trends. Time-dependent aerosol distributions are generated from the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model applied to historical emission inventories and future projections. Radiative forcing from US anthropogenic aerosols peaked in 1970–1990 and has strongly declined since due to air quality regulations. We find that the regional radiative forcing from US anthropogenic aerosols elicits a strong regional climate response, cooling the central and eastern US by 0.5–1.0 °C on average during 1970–1990, with the strongest effects on maximum daytime temperatures in summer and autumn. Aerosol cooling reflects comparable contributions from direct and indirect (cloud-mediated) radiative effects. Absorbing aerosol (mainly black carbon) has negligible warming effect. Aerosol cooling reduces surface evaporation and thus decreases precipitation along the US east coast, but also increases the southerly flow of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico resulting in increased cloud cover and precipitation in the central US. Observations over the eastern US show a lack of warming in 1960–1980 followed by very rapid warming since, which we reproduce in the GCM and attribute to trends in US anthropogenic aerosol sources. Present US aerosol concentrations are sufficiently low that future air quality improvements are projected to cause little further warming in the US (0.1 °C over 2010–2050). We find that most of the potential warming from aerosol source controls in the US has already been realized over the 1980–2010 period.

scholarly journals Stratospheric Ozone Depletion: The Main Driver of Twentieth-Century Atmospheric Circulation Changes in the Southern Hemisphere

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 795-812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo M. Polvani ◽  
Darryn W. Waugh ◽  
Gustavo J. P. Correa ◽  
Seok-Woo Son
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
Ozone Depletion ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Hadley Cell ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone Depletion ◽  
Circulation Changes

Abstract The importance of stratospheric ozone depletion on the atmospheric circulation of the troposphere is studied with an atmospheric general circulation model, the Community Atmospheric Model, version 3 (CAM3), for the second half of the twentieth century. In particular, the relative importance of ozone depletion is contrasted with that of increased greenhouse gases and accompanying sea surface temperature changes. By specifying ozone and greenhouse gas forcings independently, and performing long, time-slice integrations, it is shown that the impacts of ozone depletion are roughly 2–3 times larger than those associated with increased greenhouse gases, for the Southern Hemisphere tropospheric summer circulation. The formation of the ozone hole is shown to affect not only the polar tropopause and the latitudinal position of the midlatitude jet; it extends to the entire hemisphere, resulting in a broadening of the Hadley cell and a poleward extension of the subtropical dry zones. The CAM3 results are compared to and found to be in excellent agreement with those of the multimodel means of the recent Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3) and Chemistry–Climate Model Validation (CCMVal2) simulations. This study, therefore, strongly suggests that most Southern Hemisphere tropospheric circulation changes, in austral summer over the second half of the twentieth century, have been caused by polar stratospheric ozone depletion.

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