Paleoclimate pattern effects help constrain climate sensitivity and 21st-century warming.

Vincent T Cooper1, Kyle C Armour1,2, Gregory J Hakim1

  • 1Department of Atmospheric and Climate Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195.

Summary

Paleoclimates like the Pliocene inform Earth's climate sensitivity to greenhouse gases. Accounting for past "pattern effects" refines modern climate sensitivity estimates to 2.8°C, reducing future warming uncertainty.

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