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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-924
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-924
10 Aug 2023
 | 10 Aug 2023

Direct Observational Evidence from Space of the Effect of CO2 Increase on Longwave Spectral Radiances: The Unique Role of High Spectral Resolution Measurements

Joao Teixeira, Robert C. Wilson, and Heidar T. Thrastarson

Abstract. We present a direct measurement of the impact of increased atmospheric CO2 on the spectra of Earth's longwave radiation obtained from space. The goal of this study is to experimentally confirm that the direct effects of CO2 increase on the Earth’s outgoing longwave spectra follow theoretical estimates, by developing a methodology that allows for a direct and more precise comparison between theory and observations. In this methodology, a search is performed to find selected ensembles of observed atmospheric vertical profiles of temperature and water vapor that are as close as possible to each other in terms of their values. By analysing the spectral radiances measured from space by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), corresponding to the selected ensembles of profiles, the effects of increased CO2 on the spectra can be isolated from the temperature and water vapor effects. The results illustrate the impact of the increase of CO2 on the longwave spectra and compare well with theoretical estimates. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first time that the spectral signature of the increase of CO2 (isolated from temperature and water vapor changes) has been directly observed from space.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

30 May 2024
| ACP Letters
| Highlight paper
Direct observational evidence from space of the effect of CO2 increase on longwave spectral radiances: the unique role of high-spectral-resolution measurements
João Teixeira, R. Chris Wilson, and Heidar Th. Thrastarson
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 6375–6383, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6375-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6375-2024, 2024
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The core element of climate change is the sensitivity of the Earth's climate system to the...
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This paper presents direct evidence from space (solely based on observations) that CO2 increase...
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