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Does the climate warming hiatus exist over the Tibetan Plateau?
Anmin Duan1,2, Zhixiang Xiao1,3
1State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modelling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG), Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100029, China.
Scientific Reports
|September 3, 2015
Summary
Tibetan Plateau surface temperatures are warming faster than previously observed, contrasting with global trends. This accelerated warming, particularly after 1998, is linked to regional cloud-radiation feedback mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric Science
- Climate Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Global warming trends show a hiatus post-1990s.
- The Tibetan Plateau exhibits distinct temperature changes compared to the rest of China.
- Historical surface air temperature data from 1980-2013 is analyzed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine surface air temperature change over the Tibetan Plateau.
- To investigate the accelerated warming trend observed since 1998.
- To identify potential drivers of this accelerated warming, such as cloud-radiation feedback.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of historical surface air temperature observations.
- Comparison of warming trends during different periods (1980-1997 vs. 1998-2013).
- Assessment of the role of cloud cover and radiation in temperature changes.
Main Results:
- An accelerated warming trend of 0.25°C per decade was observed over the Tibetan Plateau during 1998-2013.
- This rate is higher than the 0.21°C per decade warming from 1980-1997.
- Increased nocturnal cloud cover in the north and decreased daytime cloud cover in the south correlate with warming.
Conclusions:
- Cloud-radiation feedback is a significant factor in the recent accelerated warming of the Tibetan Plateau.
- Increased nighttime cloud enhances back-radiation, warming nights.
- Decreased daytime cloud increases sunshine, warming days.
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