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Tropospheric adjustment: The response of two general circulation models to a change in insolation
Author(s) -
Lambert F. Hugo,
Faull Nicholas E.
Publication year - 2007
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 - 10.1029/2006gl028124
Subject(s) - forcing (mathematics) , troposphere , environmental science , radiative forcing , climatology , atmospheric sciences , cloud forcing , precipitation , climate change , meteorology , geology , physics , oceanography
The responses of the HadSM3 and NCAR CCM3 general circulation models to a change in solar insolation are compared to their responses to a doubling of CO 2 concentration. In both models, it is found that the important difference is a rapid adjustment of the troposphere in the solar case that reduces the value of effective radiative forcing by about 25%. Clear‐sky warming appears to make the major contribution. Subsequent warming of the coupled troposphere, land‐surface, ocean mixed‐layer system occurs with a very similar sensitivity to that expected under a CO 2 forcing of the reduced value. Because of adjustment, the overall precipitation response to solar forcing is similar to, or less than the response to CO 2 forcing, despite being smaller per unit temperature change.