1. Lessons on climate sensitivity from past climate changes
- Author
-
von der Heydt, A. S., Dijkstra, Hendrik, van de Wal, R. S. W., Caballero, R., Crucifix, M., Foster, G. L., Huber, M., Köhler, P., Rohling, E. J., Valdes, P. J., Ashwin, P., Bathiany, S., Berends, Tijn, van Bree, Loes, Ditlevsen, P., Ghil, M., Haywood, A., Katzav, J., Lohmann, G., Lohmann, J., Lucarini, V., Marzocchi, Alice, Pälike, H., Ruvalcaba Baroni, I., Simon, D., Sluijs, A., Stap, L. B., Tantet, A., Viebahn, J., Ziegler, M., Marine and Atmospheric Research, Sub Physical Oceanography, Dep Natuurkunde, Sub Dynamics Meteorology, Organic geochemistry, Paleomagnetism, Geochemistry, Tectonophysics, Marine palynology and palaeoceanography, Stratigraphy and paleontology, Climate and Environment, Marine and Atmospheric Research, Sub Physical Oceanography, Dep Natuurkunde, Sub Dynamics Meteorology, Organic geochemistry, Paleomagnetism, Geochemistry, Tectonophysics, Marine palynology and palaeoceanography, Stratigraphy and paleontology, Climate and Environment, Philosophy & Ethics, and UCL - SST/ELI/ELIC - Earth & Climate
- Subjects
Climate tipping points ,Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management ,Atmospheric Science ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Climate commitment ,Climate change ,Present day ,Climate dynamics ,010502 geochemistry & geophysics ,Palaeoclimate ,01 natural sciences ,Proxy (climate) ,Atmospheric Sciences ,SDG 13 - Climate Action ,State dependence ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Global and Planetary Change ,Forcing (recursion theory) ,SDG 13 – Klimaatactie ,Constraints on Climate Sensitivity (R Knutti, Section Editor) ,Aquatische Ecologie en Waterkwaliteitsbeheer ,Radiative forcing ,Climate sensitivity ,feedback processes ,13. Climate action ,Climatology ,Environmental science - Abstract
Over the last decade, our understanding of cli- mate sensitivity has improved considerably. The climate system shows variability on many timescales, is subject to non-stationary forcing and it is most likely out of equi- librium with the changes in the radiative forcing. Slow and fast feedbacks complicate the interpretation of geolog- ical records as feedback strengths vary over time. In the geological past, the forcing timescales were different than at present, suggesting that the response may have behaved differently. Do these insights constrain the climate sensitiv- ity relevant for the present day? In this paper, we review the progress made in theoretical understanding of climate sensitivity and on the estimation of climate sensitivity from proxy records. Particular focus lies on the background state dependence of feedback processes and on the impact of tipping points on the climate system. We suggest how to further use palaeo data to advance our understanding of the currently ongoing climate change.
- Published
- 2016