Observational evidence for aerosols increasing upper tropospheric humidity
Laura Riuttanen1,Marja Bister1,Veli-Matti Kerminen1,Viju O. John2,3,Anu-Maija Sundström1,a,Miikka Dal Maso4,Jouni Räisänen1,Victoria A. Sinclair1,Risto Makkonen1,Filippo Xausa1,Gerrit de Leeuw1,5,and Markku Kulmala1Laura Riuttanen et al. Laura Riuttanen1,Marja Bister1,Veli-Matti Kerminen1,Viju O. John2,3,Anu-Maija Sundström1,a,Miikka Dal Maso4,Jouni Räisänen1,Victoria A. Sinclair1,Risto Makkonen1,Filippo Xausa1,Gerrit de Leeuw1,5,and Markku Kulmala1
1Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 48, 00014
Helsinki, Finland
2Met Office Hadley Centre, FitzRoy Road, Exeter, Devon, EX1 3PB, UK
Received: 27 Jun 2016 – Discussion started: 08 Jul 2016 – Revised: 14 Oct 2016 – Accepted: 19 Oct 2016 – Published: 17 Nov 2016
Abstract. Aerosol–cloud interactions are the largest source of uncertainty in the radiative forcing of the global climate. A phenomenon not included in the estimates of the total net forcing is the potential increase in upper tropospheric humidity (UTH) by anthropogenic aerosols via changes in the microphysics of deep convection. Using remote sensing data over the ocean east of China in summer, we show that increased aerosol loads are associated with an UTH increase of 2.2 ± 1.5 in units of relative humidity. We show that humidification of aerosols or other meteorological covariation is very unlikely to be the cause of this result, indicating relevance for the global climate. In tropical moist air such an UTH increase leads to a regional radiative effect of 0.5 ± 0.4 W m−2. We conclude that the effect of aerosols on UTH should be included in future studies of anthropogenic climate change and climate sensitivity.
Here we show observational evidence that aerosols increase upper tropospheric humidity (UTH) via changes in the microphysics of deep convection. Using remote sensing data over the ocean east of China in summer, we show that increased aerosol loads are associated with an UTH increase of 2.2 ± 1.5 in units of relative humidity. We show that humidification of aerosols or other meteorological covariation is very unlikely to be the cause for this result indicating relevance for the global climate.
Here we show observational evidence that aerosols increase upper tropospheric humidity (UTH) via...
