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A comparison of signals of regional aerosol‐induced forcing in eastern China and the southeastern United States
Author(s) -
Yu Shaocai,
Saxena V. K.,
Zhao Zongci
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2000gl011834
Subject(s) - forcing (mathematics) , aerosol , climatology , environmental science , china , volcano , global warming , radiative forcing , atmospheric sciences , greenhouse effect , climate change , geography , meteorology , geology , oceanography , archaeology , seismology
This paper compares the temperature change patterns and the signals of regional aerosol‐induced forcing in eastern China and the southeastern US during the latter half of the twentieth century. Both regions show decreasing trends in the mean maximum temperature over recent decades and the cooling effect of Pinatubo volcanic aerosols. In contrast to the southeastern US, we found a slight overall warming trend in eastern China. Our analysis suggests that in addition to greenhouse warming effect, observed high concentrations of absorbing aerosols over eastern China during winter and spring might be one of the major reasons for the observed warming trend.