CLIMATE FORCING BY ANTHROPOGENIC AEROSOLS

被引:2975
作者
CHARLSON, RJ
SCHWARTZ, SE
HALES, JM
CESS, RD
COAKLEY, JA
HANSEN, JE
HOFMANN, DJ
机构
[1] UNIV WASHINGTON, INST ENVIRONM STUDIES, SEATTLE, WA 98195 USA
[2] BROOKHAVEN NATL LAB, DIV ENVIRONM CHEM, UPTON, NY 11973 USA
[3] PACIFIC NW LAB, DEPT ATMOSPHER SCI, RICHLAND, WA 99352 USA
[4] SUNY STONY BROOK, INST TERR & PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES, STONY BROOK, NY 11794 USA
[5] OREGON STATE UNIV, DEPT ATMOSPHER SCI, CORVALLIS, OR 97331 USA
[6] NASA, GODDARD INST SPACE STUDIES, NEW YORK, NY 10025 USA
[7] NOAA, CLIMATE MONITORING & DIAGNOST LAB, BOULDER, CO 80303 USA
关键词
D O I
10.1126/science.255.5043.423
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
Although long considered to be of marginal importance to global climate change, tropospheric aerosol contributes substantially to radiative forcing, and anthropogenic sulfate aerosol in particular has imposed a major perturbation to this forcing. Both the direct scattering of short-wavelength solar radiation and the modification of the shortwave reflective properties of clouds by sulfate aerosol particles increase planetary albedo, thereby exerting a cooling influence on the planet. Current climate forcing due to anthropogenic sulfate is estimated to be - 1 to - 2 watts per square meter, globally averaged. This perturbation is comparable in magnitude to current anthropogenic greenhouse gas forcing but opposite in sign. Thus, the aerosol forcing has likely offset global greenhouse warming to a substantial degree. However, differences in geographical and seasonal distributions of these forcings preclude any simple compensation. Aerosol effects must be taken into account in evaluating anthropogenic influences on past, current, and projected future climate and in formulating policy regarding controls on emission of greenhouse gases and sulfur dioxide. Resolution of such policy issues requires integrated research on the magnitude and geographical distribution of aerosol climate forcing and on the controlling chemical and physical processes.
引用
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页码:423 / 430
页数:8
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