A Parameterised Carbon Feedback Model for the Calculation of Global Warming from Attainable Fossil Fuel Emissions

Willem P. Nel
Additional contact information
Willem P. Nel: Sustainable Concepts, PO Box 4297, Cresta, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2118

Energy & Environment, 2011, vol. 22, issue 7, 859-876

Abstract: This paper evaluates the IPCC SRES scenarios against fossil fuel depletion models and proposes attainable carbon emissions trajectories. The contemporary carbon feedback cycle is then evaluated in light of recent studies and attainable carbon emissions. In light of deficiencies in the contemporary carbon feedback cycle, a parametric carbon feedback model is constructed that is consistent with empirical evidence. A radiative feedback model, that overestimates transient response when used in conjunction with equilibrium climate sensitivity, is then used in sensitivity studies to calculate the range of plausible global warming responses. The model predicts a maximum atmospheric concentration of CO 2 in the range of 500–560ppm and a maximum global mean surface temperature increase of 1.5–2°C relative to year 2000.

Date: 2011
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://eae.sagepub.com/content/22/7/859.abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:engenv:v:22:y:2011:i:7:p:859-876

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Energy & Environment
Bibliographic data for series maintained by SAGE Publications ().