WP2: Aerosols, Clouds, and Chemistry
Principal investigators
Ulrike Lohmann (ETHZ), Heikki Järvinen (FMI)
Partners
CNRS, ETHZ, FMI, WU, UHEL
Abstract
By using several ESMs coupled to a complex aerosol-chemistry module we seek to understand possible changes to robust regional and global signals, such as:
- Are shifts in the circulation regimes a consequence of the aerosol forcing across different ESMs?
- What is the effect of the large regional surface forcing by aerosols and associated changes in the hydrological cycle on vegetation, biogenic sources and sinks?
- Can we assemble enough knowledge on different feedbacks between biosphere, climate, and atmospheric aerosols and gases to identify major positive or negative feedbacks in relation to IPCC scenarios?
Specific objectives:
In order to address these questions, it is proposed to develop and include chemistry, cloud and aerosol modules for ESM’s that:
- Provide an improved description of sub grid-scale aerosol-cloud interactions
- Couple tropospheric chemistry with aerosols and clouds
- Include feedbacks with vegetation considering the role of carbon- and nitrogen cycle.
