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Global Indirect Radiative Forcing Caused by Aerosols

Jim Haywood, Leo J. Donner, Andy Jones, Jean‐Christophe Golaz

Abstract

Aerosol particles are thought to exert a significant indirect radiative forcing because they act as cloud condensation nuclei in warm cloud formation and as ice nuclei in cold cloud-forming processes. This chapter discusses the processes considered in assessing aerosol indirect radiative forcing and also highlights the problems in assessing the effect of anthropogenic aerosols upon clouds under the definition of radiative forcing by IPCC (2007). Finally, it considers the characteristics of cloud–aerosol interactions that may limit the interpretation of forcing when applied to aerosol indirect effects.

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Key concepts: Radiative forcing, Aerosol, Forcing (mathematics), Cloud condensation nuclei, Radiative transfer, Cloud forcing, Atmospheric sciences, Environmental science