June 28, 2020
Journal Article

Assessing global and local radiative feedbacks based on AGCM simulations for 1980-2014/2017

Abstract

In order to avoid contamination of unobservable and uncertain effective radiative forcing (ERF) on the diagnosis of radiative feedbacks based on short-term climate variability, we verify the Kernel-Gregory feedback calculation method using atmospheric model experiments with prescribed ERF. We show that both clear-sky radiative fluxes and all-sky radiative feedbacks have a closure between model simulations and kernel derivations. A near-zero global mean net cloud feedback is found in the simulation with prescribed ERF, which results in a more negative global net climate feedback, -2 W m-2 K-1. Consistent with AMIP6 ensemble mean results, the lapse rate feedback is the largest contributor among all feedbacks to temperature amplification over the three poles (Arctic, Antarctic and Tibetan Plateau), followed by surface albedo feedback and Planck feedback deviation from its global mean. Except for the higher surface albedo feedback in the Antarctic, other feedbacks are almost same between the Arctic and Antarctic.

Revised: August 7, 2020 | Published: June 28, 2020

Citation

Zhang R., H. Wang, Q. Fu, and P.J. Rasch. 2020. Assessing global and local radiative feedbacks based on AGCM simulations for 1980-2014/2017. Geophysical Research Letters 47, no. 12:e2020GL088063. PNNL-SA-150269. doi:10.1029/2020GL088063