Florida State University

10:00am, May 22, 2024

 

Abstract:

We here introduce a climate feedback kernel, referred to as the "energy gain kernel" (EGK). Elements of EGK are all positive, representing amplified energy perturbations at a layer where forcing is imposed and energy gained at other layers, both of which are achieved through radiative thermal coupling within an atmosphere-surface column. EGK amplifies input energy perturbations at individual layers at an equal rate regardless of their origins, strength, and polarity.

 

Bio:

As the strength of EGK depends exclusively on climate mean states, it offers a solution for effectively and objectively separating control climate state information from climate perturbations for climate feedback studies. Given that an EGK comprises critical climate mean state information on mean temperature, water vapor, clouds, and surface pressure, we envision that the diversity of EGK across different climate models could provide insight into the inquiry of why, under the same anthropogenic greenhouse gas increase scenario, different models yield varying degrees of global mean surface warming.

Ming Cai is a full professor in Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University.  He served as Editor of the Journal of Atmospheric Sciences from 2010 to 2016 and the Director of Large-Scale and Climate Dynamics Program at (U.S.) National Science Foundation from 2016-2019. His current research interests are in the areas of climate dynamics, theory of global change, linear/nonlinear dynamics of large-scale atmospheric motions,  dynamics of tropical cyclones, short-time climate variability, global mass circulation theory and its applications for climate predictions and projections.  He has authored or co-authored 116 peer-reviewed journal papers.