The influence of the albedo-temperature feed-back on climate sensitivity

Abstract

A vertically integrated, zonally averaged energy-balance climate model coupled to a two-dimensional ocean model with prescribed overturning pattern is employed to assess the seasonally and latitudinally varying response of the climate system to changes in radiative forcing. Since the sensitivity of the climate system depends on its actual state, considerable attention is given to the correct simulation of the important features of the present-day climate (such as surface air temperature, sea-ice and snow amount and meridional energy transport). The climate variability induced by the various elements of the albedo-temperature (e.g. sea-ice and snow) feed-back is quantified. It appears that the variability caused by sea-ice variations is approximately twice as large as for snow variations.