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Weakened large-scale surface heat flux feedback at midlatitudes under global warming

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  • Zhiqiao Wang

    (Ocean University of China
    Laoshan Laboratory
    Ocean University of China
    Ocean University of China)

  • Zhao Jing

    (Ocean University of China
    Laoshan Laboratory)

  • Fengfei Song

    (Ocean University of China
    Laoshan Laboratory)

Abstract

The surface heat flux feedback, which refers to the response of surface heat flux anomaly to the underlying sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA), is one of the key processes in air-sea interaction. It plays an important role in regulating various aspects of the climate system, ranging from local SSTA persistence to the global overturning circulation and major climate modes. Yet its change under greenhouse gas-induced warming remains unknown. Here, using an ensemble of global climate simulations under a high radiative forcing scenario, we demonstrate that the intensity of surface heat flux feedback for spatially large-scale SSTA at the midlatitudes is projected to halve by the end of the 21st century, compared to pre-industrial levels. Such weakening is primarily attributed to a more stabilized marine atmospheric boundary layer, which diminishes the air-sea thermal disequilibrium caused by SSTA. In a warming climate, the variance of midlatitude SSTA at large spatial scales is expected to be significantly enhanced in response to the weakened surface heat flux feedback.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhiqiao Wang & Zhao Jing & Fengfei Song, 2024. "Weakened large-scale surface heat flux feedback at midlatitudes under global warming," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-54394-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54394-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stefan Rahmstorf & Jason E. Box & Georg Feulner & Michael E. Mann & Alexander Robinson & Scott Rutherford & Erik J. Schaffernicht, 2015. "Exceptional twentieth-century slowdown in Atlantic Ocean overturning circulation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(5), pages 475-480, May.
    2. Qihua Peng & Shang-Ping Xie & Dongxiao Wang & Xiao-Tong Zheng & Hong Zhang, 2019. "Coupled ocean-atmosphere dynamics of the 2017 extreme coastal El Niño," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Xiaohui Ma & Xingzhi Zhang & Lixin Wu & Zhili Tang & Peiran Yang & Fengfei Song & Zhao Jing & Hui Chen & Yushan Qu & Man Yuan & Zhaohui Chen & Bolan Gan, 2024. "Midlatitude mesoscale thermal Air-sea interaction enhanced by greenhouse warming," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Jia-Rui Shi & Benjamin D. Santer & Young-Oh Kwon & Susan E. Wijffels, 2024. "The emerging human influence on the seasonal cycle of sea surface temperature," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 14(4), pages 364-372, April.
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