Global warming potentials modified for surface radiative forcing for use in surface energy balance models

The radiative impact of greenhouse gases in warming the Earth varies significantly, depending on whether one considers the forcing at the tropopause or at the surface. Compared to the former, the surface forcing for some greenhouse gases is reduced by the interference of water vapour. Hence, we calc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atmospheric science letters 2001-01, Vol.2 (1‐4), p.81-85
Main Authors: Evans, W. F. J., Puckrin, E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Climate change
climate forcing
climate model
Energy balance
Energy balance models
Global warming
Greenhouse effect
greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gases
GWP
Radiative forcing
Surface energy
Surface energy balance
surface energy balance model
Surface properties
Tropopause
Water vapor
Water vapour
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Summary:The radiative impact of greenhouse gases in warming the Earth varies significantly, depending on whether one considers the forcing at the tropopause or at the surface. Compared to the former, the surface forcing for some greenhouse gases is reduced by the interference of water vapour. Hence, we calculate alternative surface global warming potentials (SGWPs) that are derived from the surface forcing radiation of greenhouse gases for potential use in surface radiative energy balance models (SREBMs). For gases with a large water vapour overlap, the SGWPs are typically 30% smaller than current GWPs; for gases with relatively little overlap, the SGWPs are larger by more than 33%. These results may be used in conjunction with SREBMs as an additional means of calculating climate change, and may lead to an altered emissions budget compared to that outlined by the current Kyoto agreement. Copyright © 2003 Royal Meteorological Society.
ISSN:1530-261X
1530-261X
DOI:10.1006/asle.2001.0027