Carbon dioxide and climate impulse response functions for the computation of greenhouse gas metrics: a multi-model analysis
The responses of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) and other climate variables to an emission pulse of CO<sub>2</sub> into the atmosphere are often used to compute the Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Global Temperature change Potential (GTP), to characterize the response tim...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2013-03-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/13/2793/2013/acp-13-2793-2013.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818364133906579456 |
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| author | F. Joos R. Roth J. S. Fuglestvedt G. P. Peters I. G. Enting W. von Bloh V. Brovkin E. J. Burke M. Eby N. R. Edwards T. Friedrich T. L. Frölicher P. R. Halloran P. B. Holden C. Jones T. Kleinen F. T. Mackenzie K. Matsumoto M. Meinshausen G.-K. Plattner A. Reisinger J. Segschneider G. Shaffer M. Steinacher K. Strassmann K. Tanaka A. Timmermann A. J. Weaver |
| author_facet | F. Joos R. Roth J. S. Fuglestvedt G. P. Peters I. G. Enting W. von Bloh V. Brovkin E. J. Burke M. Eby N. R. Edwards T. Friedrich T. L. Frölicher P. R. Halloran P. B. Holden C. Jones T. Kleinen F. T. Mackenzie K. Matsumoto M. Meinshausen G.-K. Plattner A. Reisinger J. Segschneider G. Shaffer M. Steinacher K. Strassmann K. Tanaka A. Timmermann A. J. Weaver |
| author_sort | F. Joos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The responses of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) and other climate variables to an emission pulse of CO<sub>2</sub> into the atmosphere are often used to compute the Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Global Temperature change Potential (GTP), to characterize the response timescales of Earth System models, and to build reduced-form models. In this carbon cycle-climate model intercomparison project, which spans the full model hierarchy, we quantify responses to emission pulses of different magnitudes injected under different conditions. The CO<sub>2</sub> response shows the known rapid decline in the first few decades followed by a millennium-scale tail. For a 100 Gt-C emission pulse added to a constant CO<sub>2</sub> concentration of 389 ppm, 25 ± 9% is still found in the atmosphere after 1000 yr; the ocean has absorbed 59 ± 12% and the land the remainder (16 ± 14%). The response in global mean surface air temperature is an increase by 0.20 ± 0.12 °C within the first twenty years; thereafter and until year 1000, temperature decreases only slightly, whereas ocean heat content and sea level continue to rise. Our best estimate for the Absolute Global Warming Potential, given by the time-integrated response in CO<sub>2</sub> at year 100 multiplied by its radiative efficiency, is 92.5 × 10<sup>−15</sup> yr W m<sup>−2</sup> per kg-CO<sub>2</sub>. This value very likely (5 to 95% confidence) lies within the range of (68 to 117) × 10<sup>−15</sup> yr W m<sup>−2</sup> per kg-CO<sub>2</sub>. Estimates for time-integrated response in CO<sub>2</sub> published in the IPCC First, Second, and Fourth Assessment and our multi-model best estimate all agree within 15% during the first 100 yr. The integrated CO<sub>2</sub> response, normalized by the pulse size, is lower for pre-industrial conditions, compared to present day, and lower for smaller pulses than larger pulses. In contrast, the response in temperature, sea level and ocean heat content is less sensitive to these choices. Although, choices in pulse size, background concentration, and model lead to uncertainties, the most important and subjective choice to determine AGWP of CO<sub>2</sub> and GWP is the time horizon. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T21:59:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2dbd2ec7d09b45feb4bbd1fd14aecd6f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T21:59:32Z |
| publishDate | 2013-03-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
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| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-2dbd2ec7d09b45feb4bbd1fd14aecd6f2022-12-21T23:30:02ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242013-03-011352793282510.5194/acp-13-2793-2013Carbon dioxide and climate impulse response functions for the computation of greenhouse gas metrics: a multi-model analysisF. JoosR. RothJ. S. FuglestvedtG. P. PetersI. G. EntingW. von BlohV. BrovkinE. J. BurkeM. EbyN. R. EdwardsT. FriedrichT. L. FrölicherP. R. HalloranP. B. HoldenC. JonesT. KleinenF. T. MackenzieK. MatsumotoM. MeinshausenG.-K. PlattnerA. ReisingerJ. SegschneiderG. ShafferM. SteinacherK. StrassmannK. TanakaA. TimmermannA. J. WeaverThe responses of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) and other climate variables to an emission pulse of CO<sub>2</sub> into the atmosphere are often used to compute the Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Global Temperature change Potential (GTP), to characterize the response timescales of Earth System models, and to build reduced-form models. In this carbon cycle-climate model intercomparison project, which spans the full model hierarchy, we quantify responses to emission pulses of different magnitudes injected under different conditions. The CO<sub>2</sub> response shows the known rapid decline in the first few decades followed by a millennium-scale tail. For a 100 Gt-C emission pulse added to a constant CO<sub>2</sub> concentration of 389 ppm, 25 ± 9% is still found in the atmosphere after 1000 yr; the ocean has absorbed 59 ± 12% and the land the remainder (16 ± 14%). The response in global mean surface air temperature is an increase by 0.20 ± 0.12 °C within the first twenty years; thereafter and until year 1000, temperature decreases only slightly, whereas ocean heat content and sea level continue to rise. Our best estimate for the Absolute Global Warming Potential, given by the time-integrated response in CO<sub>2</sub> at year 100 multiplied by its radiative efficiency, is 92.5 × 10<sup>−15</sup> yr W m<sup>−2</sup> per kg-CO<sub>2</sub>. This value very likely (5 to 95% confidence) lies within the range of (68 to 117) × 10<sup>−15</sup> yr W m<sup>−2</sup> per kg-CO<sub>2</sub>. Estimates for time-integrated response in CO<sub>2</sub> published in the IPCC First, Second, and Fourth Assessment and our multi-model best estimate all agree within 15% during the first 100 yr. The integrated CO<sub>2</sub> response, normalized by the pulse size, is lower for pre-industrial conditions, compared to present day, and lower for smaller pulses than larger pulses. In contrast, the response in temperature, sea level and ocean heat content is less sensitive to these choices. Although, choices in pulse size, background concentration, and model lead to uncertainties, the most important and subjective choice to determine AGWP of CO<sub>2</sub> and GWP is the time horizon.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/13/2793/2013/acp-13-2793-2013.pdf |
| spellingShingle | F. Joos R. Roth J. S. Fuglestvedt G. P. Peters I. G. Enting W. von Bloh V. Brovkin E. J. Burke M. Eby N. R. Edwards T. Friedrich T. L. Frölicher P. R. Halloran P. B. Holden C. Jones T. Kleinen F. T. Mackenzie K. Matsumoto M. Meinshausen G.-K. Plattner A. Reisinger J. Segschneider G. Shaffer M. Steinacher K. Strassmann K. Tanaka A. Timmermann A. J. Weaver Carbon dioxide and climate impulse response functions for the computation of greenhouse gas metrics: a multi-model analysis Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Carbon dioxide and climate impulse response functions for the computation of greenhouse gas metrics: a multi-model analysis |
| title_full | Carbon dioxide and climate impulse response functions for the computation of greenhouse gas metrics: a multi-model analysis |
| title_fullStr | Carbon dioxide and climate impulse response functions for the computation of greenhouse gas metrics: a multi-model analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Carbon dioxide and climate impulse response functions for the computation of greenhouse gas metrics: a multi-model analysis |
| title_short | Carbon dioxide and climate impulse response functions for the computation of greenhouse gas metrics: a multi-model analysis |
| title_sort | carbon dioxide and climate impulse response functions for the computation of greenhouse gas metrics a multi model analysis |
| url | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/13/2793/2013/acp-13-2793-2013.pdf |
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