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Arctic Amplification: A Rapid Response to Radiative Forcing
Author(s) -
Previdi Michael,
Janoski Tyler P.,
Chiodo Gabriel,
Smith Karen L.,
Polvani Lorenzo M.
Publication year - 2020
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 - 10.1029/2020gl089933
Subject(s) - radiative forcing , arctic , climatology , forcing (mathematics) , ice albedo feedback , environmental science , arctic geoengineering , sea ice , atmospheric sciences , polar , climate change , arctic ice pack , the arctic , global warming , cryosphere , radiative transfer , geology , oceanography , drift ice , physics , astronomy , quantum mechanics
Arctic amplification (AA) of surface warming is a prominent feature of anthropogenic climate change with important implications for human and natural systems. Despite its importance, the underlying causes of AA are not fully understood. Here, analyzing coupled climate model simulations, we show that AA develops rapidly (within the first few months) following an instantaneous quadrupling of atmospheric CO 2 . This rapid AA response—which occurs before any significant loss of Arctic sea ice—is produced by a positive lapse rate feedback over the Arctic. Sea ice loss is therefore not needed to produce polar‐amplified warming, although it contributes significantly to this warming after the first few months. Our results provide new and compelling evidence that AA owes its existence, fundamentally, to fast atmospheric processes.