Contribution of anthropogenic aerosols to persistent La Nina-like conditions in the early 21st century.

ABSTRACT: The discrepancy between the observed lack of surface warming in the eastern equatorial Pacific and climate model projections of an El Niño-like warming pattern confronts the climate research community. While anthropogenic aerosols have been suggested as a cause, the prolonged cooling trend over the equatorial Pacific appears in conflict with Northern Hemisphere aerosol emission reduction since the 1980s. Here, using CESM, we show that the superposition of fast and slow responses to aerosol emission change-an increase followed by a decrease-can sustain the La Niña-like condition for a longer time than expected. The rapid adjustment of Hadley Cell to aerosol reduction triggers joint feedback between low clouds, wind, evaporation, and sea surface temperature in the Southeast Pacific, leading

SUBMITTER: Hwang YT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10835045 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature