Publication Abstracts

Hansen and Sato 2004

Hansen, J., and M. Sato, 2004: Greenhouse gas growth rates. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 101, 16109-16114, doi:10.1073/pnas.0406982101.

We posit that feasible reversal of the growth of atmospheric CH4 and other trace gases would provide a vital contribution toward averting dangerous anthropogenic interference with global climate. Such trace gas reductions may allow stabilization of atmospheric CO2 at an achievable level of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, even if the added global warming constituting dangerous anthropogenic interference is as small as 1°C. A 1°C limit on global warming, with canonical climate sensitivity, requires peak CO2 {approx} 440 ppm if further non-CO2 forcing is +0.5 W/m2, but peak CO2 — 520 ppm if further non-CO2 forcing is -0.5 W/m2. The practical result is that a decline of non-CO2 forcings allows climate forcing to be stabilized with a significantly higher transient level of CO2 emissions. Increased "natural" emissions of CO2, N2O, and CH4 are expected in response to global warming. These emissions, an indirect effect of all climate forcings, are small compared with human-made climate forcing and occur on a time scale of a few centuries, but they tend to aggravate the task of stabilizing atmospheric composition.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{ha04010t,
  author={Hansen, J. and Sato, M.},
  title={Greenhouse gas growth rates},
  year={2004},
  journal={Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.},
  volume={101},
  pages={16109--16114},
  doi={10.1073/pnas.0406982101},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - ha04010t
AU  - Hansen, J.
AU  - Sato, M.
PY  - 2004
TI  - Greenhouse gas growth rates
JA  - Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
VL  - 101
SP  - 16109
EP  - 16114
DO  - 10.1073/pnas.0406982101
ER  -

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