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Natural short-lived halogens exert an indirect cooling effect on climate.
- Source :
-
Nature [Nature] 2023 Jun; Vol. 618 (7967), pp. 967-973. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Jun 28. - Publication Year :
- 2023
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Abstract
- Observational evidence shows the ubiquitous presence of ocean-emitted short-lived halogens in the global atmosphere <superscript>1-3</superscript> . Natural emissions of these chemical compounds have been anthropogenically amplified since pre-industrial times <superscript>4-6</superscript> , while, in addition, anthropogenic short-lived halocarbons are currently being emitted to the atmosphere <superscript>7,8</superscript> . Despite their widespread distribution in the atmosphere, the combined impact of these species on Earth's radiative balance remains unknown. Here we show that short-lived halogens exert a substantial indirect cooling effect at present (-0.13 ± 0.03 watts per square metre) that arises from halogen-mediated radiative perturbations of ozone (-0.24 ± 0.02 watts per square metre), compensated by those from methane (+0.09 ± 0.01 watts per square metre), aerosols (+0.03 ± 0.01 watts per square metre) and stratospheric water vapour (+0.011 ± 0.001 watts per square metre). Importantly, this substantial cooling effect has increased since 1750 by -0.05 ± 0.03 watts per square metre (61 per cent), driven by the anthropogenic amplification of natural halogen emissions, and is projected to change further (18-31 per cent by 2100) depending on climate warming projections and socioeconomic development. We conclude that the indirect radiative effect due to short-lived halogens should now be incorporated into climate models to provide a more realistic natural baseline of Earth's climate system.<br /> (© 2023. The Author(s).)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1476-4687
- Volume :
- 618
- Issue :
- 7967
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Nature
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 37380694
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06119-z