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Aerosol Forcing: Rapporteur’s Report and Summary

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Abstract

This paper summarizes the discussions held during the session dedicated to Aerosol forcing at the Workshop Observing and Modelling Earth’s Energy Flows. The session Aerosol forcing was convened by P. Ingmann and J. Heintzenberg and included 10 presentations given by R. Kahn, D. Winker, U. Baltensperger, J. Haywood, S. Schwartz, J. Heintzenberg, H. Le Treut, U. Lohmann, R. Wood, and E. Philipona. The presentations given ranged from overviews of current observational capabilities to analyses of aerosol–cloud interactions in observations and models of varying complexity. This paper is organized around a few key points, summarizing the major points of agreement, disagreement, and discussion that the presentations gave rise to. The focus is largely on the uncertainties that remain with regard to aerosol forcing, particularly related to aerosol-cloud interactions and indirect aerosol effects on climate.

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Correspondence to Frida A-M. Bender.

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Bender, F.AM. Aerosol Forcing: Rapporteur’s Report and Summary. Surv Geophys 33, 693–700 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-011-9160-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-011-9160-0

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