Dynamical and cloud-radiation feedbacks in El Niño and greenhouse warming

Jin, F.-F., Hu, Z.-Z., Latif, M., Bengtsson, L. and Roeckner, E. (2001) Dynamical and cloud-radiation feedbacks in El Niño and greenhouse warming. Geophysical Research Letters, 28 (8). pp. 1539-1542. ISSN 0094-8276 doi: 10.1029/2000GL012078

Abstract/Summary

An El Niño-like steady response is found in a greenhouse warming simulation resulting from coupled ocean-atmosphere dynamical feedbacks similar to those producing the present-day El Niños. There is a strong negative cloud-radiation feedback on the sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly associated with this enhanced eastern equatorial Pacific warm pattern. However, this negative feedback is overwhelmed by the positive dynamical feedbacks and cannot diminish the sensitivity of the tropical SST to enhanced greenhouse gas concentrations. The enhanced eastern-Pacific warming in the coupled ocean-atmosphere system suggests that coupled dynamics can strengthen this sensitivity.