Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-811
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-811
29 Aug 2022
 | 29 Aug 2022

The response of hemispheric differences in Earth’s albedo to CO2 forcing in coupled models and its implications for shortwave radiative feedback strength

Aiden R. Jönsson and Frida A.-M. Bender

Abstract. The Earth’s albedo is observed to be symmetric between the hemispheres on the annual mean timescale, despite the clear-sky albedo being asymmetrically higher in the northern hemisphere due to more land area and aerosol sources; this is because the mean cloud distribution currently compensates for the clear-sky asymmetry almost exactly. We investigate the evolution of the hemispheric difference in albedo in CMIP6 coupled model simulations following an abrupt quadrupling of CO2 concentrations, to which all models respond with an initial decrease of albedo in the northern hemisphere (NH) due to loss of Arctic sea ice. After this initial NH darkening, the evolution of the hemispheric albedo difference diverges among models, with some models remaining at their new hemispheric albedo difference, and others returning towards their pre-industrial difference through either a reduction in SH clouds or an increase in NH clouds, or a combination of the two. These responses have different implications on the reduction in global albedo, and thereby the strength of the shortwave cloud feedback: if a cross-hemispheric communicating mechanism is primarily responsible for maintaining hemispheric albedo symmetry, the total shortwave radiative feedback must be more strongly positive. We also show that in these models, there is a link between the extent of reductions in SH extratropical cloud cover and Antarctic albedo decline due to increased poleward heat transport in the SH.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

21 Mar 2023
The implications of maintaining Earth's hemispheric albedo symmetry for shortwave radiative feedbacks
Aiden R. Jönsson and Frida A.-M. Bender
Earth Syst. Dynam., 14, 345–365, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-345-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-345-2023, 2023
Short summary

Aiden R. Jönsson and Frida A.-M. Bender

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-811', Anonymous Referee #1, 04 Oct 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Aiden Jönsson, 20 Dec 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-811', Anonymous Referee #2, 20 Oct 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Aiden Jönsson, 20 Dec 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-811', Anonymous Referee #1, 04 Oct 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Aiden Jönsson, 20 Dec 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-811', Anonymous Referee #2, 20 Oct 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Aiden Jönsson, 20 Dec 2022

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (20 Dec 2022) by Ben Kravitz
AR by Aiden Jönsson on behalf of the Authors (30 Jan 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (31 Jan 2023) by Ben Kravitz
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (10 Feb 2023)
ED: Publish as is (17 Feb 2023) by Ben Kravitz
AR by Aiden Jönsson on behalf of the Authors (23 Feb 2023)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

21 Mar 2023
The implications of maintaining Earth's hemispheric albedo symmetry for shortwave radiative feedbacks
Aiden R. Jönsson and Frida A.-M. Bender
Earth Syst. Dynam., 14, 345–365, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-345-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-345-2023, 2023
Short summary

Aiden R. Jönsson and Frida A.-M. Bender

Aiden R. Jönsson and Frida A.-M. Bender

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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
The Earth has nearly the same mean albedo in both hemispheres, a feature not well replicated by climate models. Global warming causes changes in surface and cloud properties that affect albedo, in turn feeding back into the warming. We show that models predict more darkening due to ice loss in the northern than the southern hemisphere in response to increasing CO2 concentrations. This is to varying degrees counteracted by changes in cloud cover, with implications for cloud feedback on climate.