January 15, 2015
Journal Article

A New Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP) Experiment Designed for Climate and Chemistry Models

Abstract

A new Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP) experiment G4fAer (G4 fixed Aerosols) is proposed to investigate the impact of stratospheric aerosol geoengineering on atmospheric composition, climate, and the environment. In contrast to the earlier G4 GeoMIP experiment, which requires an injection of SO2 into the model, a prescribed aerosol forcing file is provided to the community, to be consistently applied to future model experiments between 2020 and 2100. This stratospheric aerosol distribution has been derived using the ECHAM HAM micro-physical model, based on an annual tropical injection of 8 Tg SO2 between 2020 and 2070. The performance of this experiment using climate and chemistry models in a multi-model comparison framework will allow us to answer scientific questions that have not been addressed in currently existing studies. A better understanding of the impact of geoengineering and the potential abrupt termination on climate and composition of the atmosphere in a changing environment is expected.

Revised: June 12, 2015 | Published: January 15, 2015

Citation

Tilmes S., M. Mills, U. Niemeier, H. Schmidt, A. Robock, B.S. Kravitz, and J.F. Lamarque, et al. 2015. A New Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP) Experiment Designed for Climate and Chemistry Models. Geoscientific Model Development 8, no. 1:43-49. PNNL-SA-103448. doi:10.5194/gmd-8-43-2015