We examine the response of the Community Earth System Model Versions 1 and 2 (CESM1 and CESM2) to abrupt quadrupling of atmospheric CO
The Community Earth System Model Version 2 (CESM2) has an equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) of 5.3 K. ECS is an emergent property of both climate feedbacks and aerosol forcing. The increase in ECS over the previous version (CESM1) is the result of cloud feedbacks. Interim versions of CESM2 had a land model that damped ECS. Part of the ECS change results from evolving the model configuration to reproduce the long‐term trend of global and regional surface temperature over the twentieth century in response to climate forcings. Changes made to reduce sensitivity to aerosols also impacted cloud feedbacks, which significantly influence ECS. CESM2 simulations compare very well to observations of present climate. It is critical to understand whether the high ECS, outside the best estimate range of 1.5–4.5 K, is plausible.
- Publication Date:
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10362020
- Journal Name:
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Volume:
- 46
- Issue:
- 14
- Page Range or eLocation-ID:
- p. 8329-8337
- ISSN:
- 0094-8276
- Publisher:
- DOI PREFIX: 10.1029
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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