Collaborative Research: P2C2--Understanding the Role of a High-Latitude Convective Cloud Feedback in Equable and Future Climate Dynamics

在始新世时期，赤道到极点的温差和高纬度的季节性气候都比现在小得多。在目前对气候动力学的理解框架内，这些情况很难解释。研究人员试图：1)了解是什么因素控制了对流云反馈激活的临界二氧化碳水平，以及反馈可以产生的地表变暖幅度；2)确定对流云反馈对大陆内部和海洋增温的能力，与始新世化石和代用观测相一致；3)利用现代观测对对流云反馈进行约束；4)探讨对流云反馈对未来气候的可能影响。更广泛的影响主要是博士后学者和研究生的支持。该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。

Funding is provided to investigate equator-to-pole temperature differences and high-latitude seasonality during the equable climate of the Eocene Period when both were much smaller than they are today. These circumstances are difficult to explain within the framework of the current understanding of climate dynamics.The researchers seek to: 1) understand what factors control the critical carbon dioxide level at which the convective cloud feedback activates and the magnitude of the surface warming the feedback can produce; 2) determine the ability of convective cloud feedback to provide warming in continental interiors as well as over ocean, consistent with Eocene fossil and proxy observations; 3) constrain the convective cloud feedback using modern observations; and 4) investigate the possible implications of the convective cloud feedback for future climate.The broader impacts are primarily the support of a postdoctoral scholar and graduate student. This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).