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Effects of surface temperature and clouds on the CO2 forcingThe effects of surface temperature and clouds on the CO2 forcing are studied, based on use of the Colorado State University GCM. Results are reported from a pair of perpetual July simulations in which the sea surface temperatures differ by 4 K. The precipitable water is about 1.5 times larger in the warm run. The increased water vapor concentration amplifies the radiative effects of CO2, leading to greater CO2 forcing in the warm run. In the colder run the globally averaged reduction in upward longwave radiation due to a doubling of CO2 is 4.3 W/sq m at the level of maximum forcing, or the 'CO2 tropopause'. Above and below this level the CO2 forcing decreases, resulting in a net tropospheric warming of 0.033 K/day and a net stratospheric cooling. In the warm run the CO2 forcing at the CO2 tropopause is 4.6 W/sq m, and is associated with a tropospheric warming of 0.04 K/day. The clear-sky CO2 forcing at the CO2 tropopause is 5.0 W/sq m in the cold run, and 5.2 W/sq m in the warm run. By blocking infrared radiation that would otherwise be blocked by CO2, the clouds reduce the CO2 forcing of the surface-troposphere system by 0.66 W/sq m in the cold run, and by 0.59 W/sq m in the warm run.
Document ID
19910053668
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Schmitt, Christina
(Colorado State Univ. Fort Collins, CO, United States)
Randall, David A.
(Colorado State University Fort Collins, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
May 20, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 96
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
91A38291
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-1058
CONTRACT_GRANT: DE-FG02-89ER-69027
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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