Maximum entropy production, cloud feedback, and climate change

Paltridge, G. W.; Farquhar, G. D.; Cuntz, M.

doi:10.1029/2007gl029925

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Maximum entropy production, cloud feedback, and climate change

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Cuntz, M.
Department Biogeochemical Systems, Prof. M. Heimann, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Society;

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2007gl029925
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Paltridge, G. W., Farquhar, G. D., & Cuntz, M. (2007). Maximum entropy production, cloud feedback, and climate change. Geophysical Research Letters, 34(14), L14708. doi:10.1029/2007gl029925.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-000E-D59C-5

Abstract

A steady-state energy-balance climate model based on a global constraint of maximum entropy production is used to examine cloud feedback and the response of surface temperature T to doubled atmospheric CO₂. The constraint ensures that change in zonal cloud amount theta necessarily involves change in the convergence KX of meridional energy flow. Without other feedbacks, the changes in q, KX and T range from about 2%, 2 Wm(-2) and 1.5 K respectively at the equator to -2%, -2 Wm(-2) and 0.5 K at the poles. Global-average cloud effectively remains unchanged with increasing CO₂ and has little effect on global-average temperature. Global-average cloud decreases with increasing water vapour and amplifies the positive feedback of water vapour and lapse rate. The net result is less cloud at all latitudes and a rise in T of the order of 3 K at the equator and 1 K at the poles. Ice-albedo and solar absorption feedbacks are not considered.