Aerosol Forcing: Still Uncertain, Still Relevant

Abstract

Abstract Under the auspices of WCRP Grand challenge on Clouds, circulation and climate sensitivity, a selection of experts have made an unprecedented effort to bound the global radiative forcing by atmospheric aerosol, presented in Bellouin et al. (2019, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019RG000660). In addition to an updated interval, confirming the progress made in the field, a main strength of the assessment is the conceptual framework, that with clarity invites to further range refinement. The sense of conflict between process understanding and large‐scale effects, between bottom‐up and top‐down approaches, becomes evident and the review shows that both approaches are necessary, but neither is sufficient.

Keywords

• Aerosol forcing
• Assessment
• Commentary