Eastern equatorial Pacific warming delayed by aerosols and thermostat response to CO2 increase

Ulla K. Heede () and Alexey V. Fedorov
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Ulla K. Heede: Yale University
Alexey V. Fedorov: Yale University

Nature Climate Change, 2021, vol. 11, issue 8, 696-703

Abstract: Abstract Understanding the tropical Pacific response to global warming remains challenging. Here we use a range of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 greenhouse warming experiments to assess the recent and future evolution of the equatorial Pacific east–west temperature gradient and corresponding Walker circulation. In abrupt CO2-increase scenarios, many models generate an initial strengthening of this gradient resembling an ocean thermostat, followed by a small weakening; other models generate an immediate weakening that becomes progressively stronger, establishing a pronounced eastern equatorial Pacific warming pattern. The initial response in these experiments is a strong predictor for the intensity of this pattern simulated in both abrupt and realistic warming scenarios, but not in historical simulations showing no multi-model-mean warming trend in this region. The likely explanation is that the recent CO2-driven changes in the tropical Pacific are masked by aerosol effects and a potential ocean-thermostat-related delay, while the eastern equatorial Pacific warming pattern will emerge as greenhouse gases overcome aerosol forcing.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-021-01101-x

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