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Publication Abstracts

Shindell et al. 2003

Shindell, D.T., G.A. Schmidt, R.L. Miller, and M.E. Mann, 2003: Volcanic and solar forcing of climate change during the preindustrial era. J. Climate, 16, 4094-4107, doi:10.1175/1520-0442(2003)016<4094:VASFOC>2.0.CO;2.

The climate response to variability in volcanic aerosols and solar irradiance, the primary forcings during the preindustrial era, is examined in a stratosphere-resolving general circulation model. The best agreement with historical and proxy data is obtained using both forcings, each of which has a significant effect on global mean temperatures. However, their regional climate impacts in the Northern Hemisphere are quite different. While the short-term continental winter warming response to volcanism is well-known, we show that due to opposing dynamical and radiative effects, the long-term (decadal mean) regional response is not significant compared to unforced variability for either the winter or the annual average. In contrast, the long-term regional response to solar forcing greatly exceeds unforced variability for both time-averages, as the dynamical and radiative effects reinforce one another, and produces climate anomalies similar to those seen during the Little Ice Age. Thus, long-term regional changes during the preindustrial appear to have been dominated by solar forcing.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{sh05200y,
  author={Shindell, D. T. and Schmidt, G. A. and Miller, R. L. and Mann, M. E.},
  title={Volcanic and solar forcing of climate change during the preindustrial era},
  year={2003},
  journal={Journal of Climate},
  volume={16},
  pages={4094--4107},
  doi={10.1175/1520-0442(2003)016%3C4094%3AVASFOC%3E2.0.CO;2},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - sh05200y
AU  - Shindell, D. T.
AU  - Schmidt, G. A.
AU  - Miller, R. L.
AU  - Mann, M. E.
PY  - 2003
TI  - Volcanic and solar forcing of climate change during the preindustrial era
JA  - J. Climate
JO  - Journal of Climate
VL  - 16
SP  - 4094
EP  - 4107
DO  - 10.1175/1520-0442(2003)016%3C4094%3AVASFOC%3E2.0.CO;2
ER  -

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