Improved Simulation of Climate Variability: Impact of Volcanic Aerosols and VolcanEESM Database
First Author
Ziming Ke
ke2@llnl.gov
All Authors
Ziming Ke, Qi Tang, Chris Golaz, Hailong Wang, Xiaohong Liu
Topic
Coupled System
Project
E3SM project
Abstract
Sulfate aerosols resulting from large volcanic eruptions act as natural forcing agents in the climate system and are currently integrated into the current version of E3SM based on CMIP6 recommendations. However, uncertainties surrounding volcanic emissions and plume heights before the satellite era (1979 to present) remain significant. This study focuses on evaluating the influence of volcanic aerosols on simulated climate variability, with a specific focus on the pre-satellite era. By leveraging the VolcanEESM global volcanic sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions database, which offers enhanced volcanic emission data for the period from 1940 to 1960, along with relatively reduced emissions from 1960 to 1979 compared to CMIP6-endorsed forcing, more realistic simulations of interannual surface temperature changes in E3SM are achieved. The findings underscore the valuable role of the VolcanEESM database in augmenting E3SM's capability to capture and comprehend climate variability, particularly concerning the impacts of volcanic aerosol effects.
