Climate response and radiative forcing from mineral aerosols during the last glacial maximum, pre‐industrial, current and doubled‐carbon dioxide climates

Abstract

Mineral aerosol impacts on climate through radiative forcing by natural dust sources are examined in the current, last glacial maximum, pre‐industrial and doubled‐carbon dioxide climate. Modeled globally averaged dust loadings change by +88%, +31% and −60% in the last glacial maximum, pre‐industrial and future climates, respectively, relative to the current climate. Model results show globally averaged dust radiative forcing at the top of atmosphere is −1.0, −0.4 and +0.14 W/m2 for the last glacial maximum, pre‐industrial and doubled‐carbon dioxide climates, respectively, relative to the current climate. Globally averaged surface temperature changed by −0.85, −0.22, and +0.06 °C relative to the current climate in the last glacial maximum, pre‐industrial and doubled carbon dioxide climates, respectively, due solely to the dust radiative forcing changes simulated here. These simulations only include natural dust source response to climate change, and neglect possible impacts by human land and water use.