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Dynamical and cloud‐radiation feedbacks in El Niño and greenhouse warming
Author(s) -
Jin F.F.,
Hu Z.Z.,
Latif M.,
Bengtsson L.,
Roeckner E.
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 - 10.1029/2000gl012078
Subject(s) - environmental science , atmosphere (unit) , climatology , greenhouse gas , cloud feedback , sea surface temperature , greenhouse effect , anomaly (physics) , atmospheric sciences , global warming , climate sensitivity , positive feedback , greenhouse , effects of global warming on oceans , climate model , climate change , meteorology , geology , oceanography , physics , biology , condensed matter physics , horticulture , engineering , electrical engineering
An El Niño‐like steady response is found in a greenhouse warming simulation resulting from coupled ocean‐atmosphere dynamical feedbacks similar to those producing the present‐day El Niños. There is a strong negative cloud‐radiation feedback on the sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly associated with this enhanced eastern equatorial Pacific warm pattern. However, this negative feedback is overwhelmed by the positive dynamical feedbacks and cannot diminish the sensitivity of the tropical SST to enhanced greenhouse gas concentrations. The enhanced eastern‐Pacific warming in the coupled ocean‐atmosphere system suggests that coupled dynamics can strengthen this sensitivity.