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Thermocapillary Convection Space Experiment on the SJ-10 Recoverable Satellite
Published on: March 11, 2020
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Model spread in tropical low cloud feedback tied to overturning circulation response to warming
Kathleen A Schiro1, Hui Su2,3,4, Fiaz Ahmed2,3
1Department of Environmental Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. kschiro@virginia.edu.
Nature Communications
|November 19, 2022
Summary
Tropical low cloud feedback in climate models is linked to deep convection. Changes in atmospheric circulation and stability influence cloud cover, impacting climate sensitivity estimates and model uncertainty.
Area of Science:
- Climate Science
- Atmospheric Physics
- Cloud Microphysics
Background:
- Tropical low cloud feedback is a major source of uncertainty in climate sensitivity estimates.
- Tropical deep convection plays a critical role in regulating the Earth's energy budget.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between tropical deep convection and low cloud feedback in CMIP6 models.
- To understand how atmospheric circulation and stability influence cloud feedbacks and climate sensitivity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6) model outputs.
- Investigating the relationship between tropical ascent, precipitation, and cloud properties.
- Examining radiative and stability feedbacks associated with cloud changes.
Main Results:
- Tropical low cloud feedback magnitude is strongly correlated with tropical deep convection.
- Two pathways (Radiation-Subsidence and Stability-Subsidence) link deep convection to low cloud reduction.
- Greater high cloud reduction and upper-tropospheric drying enhance positive low cloud feedback.
Conclusions:
- Deep convection significantly modulates tropical low cloud feedback through circulation and stability changes.
- Intermodel variations in these pathways contribute substantially to the spread in climate sensitivity.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for reducing uncertainty in climate projections.
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