Publication Abstracts

Hansen et al. 2007

Hansen, J., M. Sato, R. Ruedy, P. Kharecha, A. Lacis, R.L. Miller, L. Nazarenko, K. Lo, G.A. Schmidt, G. Russell, I. Aleinov, S. Bauer, E. Baum, B. Cairns, V. Canuto, M. Chandler, Y. Cheng, A. Cohen, A. Del Genio, G. Faluvegi, E. Fleming, A. Friend, T. Hall, C. Jackman, J. Jonas, M. Kelley, N.Y. Kiang, D. Koch, G. Labow, J. Lerner, S. Menon, T. Novakov, V. Oinas, J.P. Perlwitz, J. Perlwitz, D. Rind, A. Romanou, R. Schmunk, D. Shindell, P. Stone, S. Sun, D. Streets, N. Tausnev, D. Thresher, N. Unger, M. Yao, and S. Zhang, 2007: Dangerous human-made interference with climate: A GISS modelE study. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 7, 2287-2312, doi:10.5194/acp-7-2287-2007.

We investigate the issue of "dangerous human-made interference with climate" using simulations with GISS modelE driven by measured or estimated forcings for 1880-2003 and extended to 2100 for IPCC greenhouse gas scenarios as well as the "alternative" scenario of Hansen and Sato (2004). Identification of "dangerous" effects is partly subjective, but we find evidence that added global warming of more than 1°C above the level in 2000 has effects that may be highly disruptive. The alternative scenario, with peak added forcing ∼1.5 W/m2 in 2100, keeps further global warming under 1°C if climate sensitivity is ∼3°C or less for doubled CO2. The alternative scenario keeps mean regional seasonal warming within 2σ (standard deviations) of 20th century variability, but other scenarios yield regional changes of 5-10, i.e., mean conditions outside the range of local experience. We discuss three specific sub-global topics: Arctic climate change, tropical storm intensification, and ice sheet stability. We suggest that Arctic climate change has been driven as much by pollutants (O3, its precursor CH4, and soot) as by CO2, offering hope that dual efforts to reduce pollutants and slow CO2 growth could minimize Arctic change. Simulated recent ocean warming in the region of Atlantic hurricane formation is comparable to observations, suggesting that greenhouse gases (GHGs) may have contributed to a trend toward greater hurricane intensities. Increasing GHGs cause significant warming in our model in submarine regions of ice shelves and shallow methane hydrates, raising concern about the potential for accelerating sea level rise and future positive feedback from methane release. Growth of non-CO2 forcings has slowed in recent years, but CO2 emissions are now surging well above the alternative scenario. Prompt actions to slow CO2 emissions and decrease non-CO2 forcings are needed to achieve the low forcing of the alternative scenario.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{ha00210r,
  author={Hansen, J. and Sato, M. and Ruedy, R. and Kharecha, P. and Lacis, A. and Miller, R. L. and Nazarenko, L. and Lo, K. and Schmidt, G. A. and Russell, G. and Aleinov, I. and Bauer, S. and Baum, E. and Cairns, B. and Canuto, V. and Chandler, M. and Cheng, Y. and Cohen, A. and Del Genio, A. and Faluvegi, G. and Fleming, E. and Friend, A. and Hall, T. and Jackman, C. and Jonas, J. and Kelley, M. and Kiang, N. Y. and Koch, D. and Labow, G. and Lerner, J. and Menon, S. and Novakov, T. and Oinas, V. and Perlwitz, J. P. and Perlwitz, J. and Rind, D. and Romanou, A. and Schmunk, R. and Shindell, D. and Stone, P. and Sun, S. and Streets, D. and Tausnev, N. and Thresher, D. and Unger, N. and Yao, M. and Zhang, S.},
  title={Dangerous human-made interference with climate: A GISS modelE study},
  year={2007},
  journal={Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics},
  volume={7},
  pages={2287--2312},
  doi={10.5194/acp-7-2287-2007},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - ha00210r
AU  - Hansen, J.
AU  - Sato, M.
AU  - Ruedy, R.
AU  - Kharecha, P.
AU  - Lacis, A.
AU  - Miller, R. L.
AU  - Nazarenko, L.
AU  - Lo, K.
AU  - Schmidt, G. A.
AU  - Russell, G.
AU  - Aleinov, I.
AU  - Bauer, S.
AU  - Baum, E.
AU  - Cairns, B.
AU  - Canuto, V.
AU  - Chandler, M.
AU  - Cheng, Y.
AU  - Cohen, A.
AU  - Del Genio, A.
AU  - Faluvegi, G.
AU  - Fleming, E.
AU  - Friend, A.
AU  - Hall, T.
AU  - Jackman, C.
AU  - Jonas, J.
AU  - Kelley, M.
AU  - Kiang, N. Y.
AU  - Koch, D.
AU  - Labow, G.
AU  - Lerner, J.
AU  - Menon, S.
AU  - Novakov, T.
AU  - Oinas, V.
AU  - Perlwitz, J. P.
AU  - Perlwitz, J.
AU  - Rind, D.
AU  - Romanou, A.
AU  - Schmunk, R.
AU  - Shindell, D.
AU  - Stone, P.
AU  - Sun, S.
AU  - Streets, D.
AU  - Tausnev, N.
AU  - Thresher, D.
AU  - Unger, N.
AU  - Yao, M.
AU  - Zhang, S.
PY  - 2007
TI  - Dangerous human-made interference with climate: A GISS modelE study
JA  - Atmos. Chem. Phys.
JO  - Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
VL  - 7
SP  - 2287
EP  - 2312
DO  - 10.5194/acp-7-2287-2007
ER  -

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