Cited by 556Atmospheric Ozone and ClimateClimate variability and modelsAtmospheric aerosols and clouds

Radiative forcing of climate by changes in the vertical distribution of ozone

Lacis, Andrew A., Wuebbles, Donald J., Logan, Jennifer A.·1990·Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres

Abstract

We describe a simple method for evaluating the radiative forcing of surface temperature caused by changes in the vertical distribution of ozone. The method employs a parameterization based on one‐dimensional radiative‐convective equilibrium calculations; these calculations predict that the surface temperature should warm in response to both decreases in ozone above 30 km and increases in ozone below 30 km. The parameterization is used to investigate the response of surface temperature to observed changes in the vertical distribution of ozone at northern mid‐latitudes. We show that the observed ozone trends, taken at face value, suggest a cooling of the surface temperature at northern mid‐latitudes during the 1970s equal in magnitude to about half the warming predicted for CO 2 for the same time period. However, the measurement uncertainty of the observed trends is large, with the best estimates for mid‐latitude cooling being −0.05±0.05°C. The surface cooling is caused by ozone decreases in the lower stratosphere, which outweigh the warming effects of ozone increases in the troposphere. The results obtained differ from predictions based on one‐dimensional photochemical model simulations of ozone trends for the 1970s, which suggest a warming of the surface temperature equal to ∼20% of the warming contributed by CO 2 . Also, the ozone decreases observed in the lower stratosphere during the 1970s produce atmospheric cooling by several tenths of a degree in the 12‐ to 20‐km altitude region over the northern mid‐latitudes. This temperature decrease is larger than the cooling due to CO 2 and thus may obscure the expected stratospheric CO 2 greenhouse signature.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1029/jd095id07p09971

Cites

51 of 51 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Ozone is a potent greenhouse gas at upper tropospheric altitudes due to its ability to absorb IR, UV, and visible radiation.

    “Numerous studies have reported its potency as a greenhouse gas at these altitudes, due to its ability to absorb IR, UV and visible radiation [146][147][148][149].”

Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Kellogg W. W., 1983, Identification of the climate change induced by increasing carbon dioxide and other trace gases in the atmosphere, WMO Bull., 32, 23
  2. Lacis A., 1979, Fourth National Aeronautics and Space Administration Weather and Climate Program Science Review, 309

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Authors
Lacis, A. A., Wuebbles, D. J., & Logan, J. A.
Affiliations
  • Goddard Institute for Space Studies (US)
  • National Center for Supercomputing Applications (BG)
  • Harvard University (US)
Venue
Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres
Published
1990-06-20
Volume
95
Issue
D7
Pages
9971-9981
ISSN
0148-0227 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2057192297
Cited by
556
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 16
FWCI
10.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Climate variability and models
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
Keywords
radiative forcing, vertical ozone distribution, surface temperature, stratospheric ozone depletion, radiative-convective equilibrium, surface cooling, northern mid-latitudes, ozone trends

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