青藏高原与周边地区近四十年区域夏季地表气温变化趋势的异同及归因分析

欧亚大陆夏季地表气温在近四十年有显著的升温趋势,本文基于ERA5再分析数据研究了1979～2019年间欧亚大陆不同区域的夏季地表气温的变化特征,并利用气候反馈响应分析方法揭示了各区域变暖原因的异同。作为全球海拔最高的大地形,青藏高原在过去四十年经历了显著的增温过程。青藏高原周边相对低海拔的地区（如北非—南欧地区、蒙古地区、东北亚地区）同样表现出明显的变暖特征,而高原南侧的南亚地区的地表气温却变化不明显。青藏高原夏季积雪融化引起的地表反照率减小使得更多短波辐射到达地表,放大高原地表增暖。北非—南欧地区增暖则主要源于大气气溶胶含量减少造成的入射短波辐射增加。同时,大气温度升高导致的向下长波辐射增强对北非—南欧地区以及蒙古地区的增暖都有显著贡献。此外,东北亚地区云的减少是造成其地表增暖最主要的过程,而南亚地区则是水汽增加和感热通量减少造成的增温与云和气溶胶增加造成的降温相抵消,因而温度变化幅度不大。     

近54年中国地面气温变化

采用国家基准气候站和基本气象站地面月平均气温资料,在严格质量控制和非均一性订正的基础上,分析了1951年以来中国大陆地区近地表年和季节平均气温演化的时间与空间特征.结果表明,我国近54年来年平均地表气温变暖幅度约为1.3℃,增温速率接近0.25℃/10 a,比全球或半球同期平均增温速率高得多.全国大范围增暖主要发生在近20余年.气温变化的季节差异和空间特征与前人分析结论基本一致,冬季增温速率高达0.39℃/10 a,春季为0.28℃/10 a,秋季0.20℃/10 a,夏季增温速率最小,但也达到0.15℃/10 a.我国20世纪80年代初期开始的明显增暖主要表现在冷季,但进入90年代以来夏季增暖也日趋明显.从区域上看,中国大陆地区最明显的增温发生在北方和青藏高原地区,而西南的四川盆地和云贵高原北部仍维持弱的降温趋势.值得提出的是,作者给出的结果尚未考虑城镇化对地面气温观测记录的影响.     

人类活动对20世纪中国西北地区气候变化影响检测和21世纪预测

使用各国政府间气候变化专门委员会(IPCC)第一工作组(WG1)2001年科学评估报告中给出的7个全球气候系统模式(CCC、CCSR、CSIRO、DKRZ、GFDL、HADL、NCAR),对20世纪中国西北地区气候变化作检测表明,从观测计算得到的近百年中国西北地区气候变暖0.75℃和近50年气候变暖0.88℃,很可能与人类活动造成大气中温室气体浓度增加以及硫化物气溶胶增加有联系.所有模式的控制试验没有表现出明显的增暖趋势,但是,根据20世纪的排放,所有模式模拟出温室气体增加或温室气体与硫化物气溶胶增加,造成西北地区变暖平均为0.34～1.57℃/100 a和0.90～1.86℃/50 a.所有模式对21世纪中国西北地区气候变化的计算表明,21世纪由于人类活动排放温室气体增加,以及温室气体和硫化物气溶胶增加,西北地区气温将可能平均升高2.79～4.50℃/100a.对21世纪未来降水变化的分析表明,由于温室气体增加,以及由于温室气体和硫化物气溶胶增加,未来西北地区降水将可能增加48～60 mm/100a.由于全球气候模式在模拟区域尺度气候变化上存在较大的不确定性,以及人类活动排放的多样性,因此,对未来的预测展望存在不确定性.     

青藏地区未来百年气候变化

利用各国政府间气候变化专门委员会(IPCC)数据分发中心(DDC)提供的7个全球海气耦合气候系统模式(CCC,CCSR,CSIRO,DKRZ,GFDL,HADL,NCAR)的模拟结果,对我国青藏地区未来100年由于人类活动影响造成的气候变化进行了分析,尤其是对青藏铁路沿线各站的平均温度、降水,以及最高、最低温度的变化进行了初步分析。结果表明,青藏地区的温度变化与全国相比,增暖幅度更大;21世纪中期,在只考虑温室气体的增加和既考虑温室气体的增加又考虑硫化物气溶胶增加时,青藏铁路沿线各站的增温幅度在2．8～3．0℃之间;21世纪末,青藏铁路沿线各站的增温幅度在3．8～4．8℃之间。冬季最低温度和夏季最高温度的增暖幅度也比平均温度的增暖幅度大,在两种情形下,青藏铁路沿线各站冬季最低温度在2050年将分别增加2～4℃和1～3℃,2100年将分别增加6～8℃和4～6℃;夏季最高温度在2050年分别增加2～4℃和1．2～2．8℃,2100年将变暖4～7℃和3．8～6℃。在只考虑温室气体的影响时,21世纪中期青海和西藏地区年平均的降水增加,增加的范围在2．5～10mm／mon,21世纪后期降水继续增加;考虑硫化物气溶胶的影响后,21世纪中期和后期除了青藏地区北部的降水略有增加外,其余大部分地区的降水基本上都将减少。由于全球气候模式的模拟存在较大的不确定性,仍需要做更多的深入研究。     

基于均一化格点资料的全球变暖趋缓期中国气温变化特征分析

利用1961-2014年水平分辨率为0.5°×0.5°的均一化气温网格数据,分析全球变暖趋缓期（1998-2014年）中国气温的变化特征。结果显示：1998-2014年中国气温上升趋缓明显,与增暖期（1985-1997年）相比,年平均气温和年平均最高气温由升温趋势转为降温趋势,分别为-0.05℃/10a和-0.11℃/10a,而年平均最低气温仍保持弱的上升趋势（0.06℃/10a）。全球变暖趋缓期中国的增暖型发生了显著变化：北方地区由增温趋势转为降温趋势,青藏高原和西南地区则呈现出相对强的增温趋势;从季节来看,冬季降温最强、夏季增温较其他季节偏强,而冬季（强降温）正是中国增暖趋缓的主要贡献季节。增温最强的要素仍然是最低气温。     

青藏高原未来30～50年A1B情景下气候变化预估

基于政府间气候变化委员会第四次评估报告(IPCC-AR4)所采用的20个气候模式在未来大气温室气体中等排放情景(A1B)下模拟结果的集合平均以及一个全球气候模式模拟输出驱动下的动力降尺度(downscaling)分析结果,对青藏高原地区未来30～50年的气候变化趋势进行了预估研究.结果表明,从2030-2049年相对于1980-1999年气候平均值的变化来看,青藏高原大部分地区年平均地面气温的升温幅度在1.4～2.2℃之间,高海拔地区的增温一般更为显著,西藏西部的冬季增暖将达到2.4℃以上.降水量的变化相对较小,青藏高原大部分地区和全年多数季节降水可能增加,但未来30～50年青藏高原地区降水率增量通常不超过5%.考虑到未来大气温室气体排放程度、多模式集合预估以及区域尺度气候模拟等多方面均可能存在不确定性,这里给出的青藏高原未来气候变化预估结果应适时检验和修正.     

青藏高原未来气候变化预估:CMIP5模式结果

本文使用国际耦合模式比较计划第5阶段(CMIP5)中对青藏高原气候模拟较优的气候模式, 在RCP4.5中等偏低辐射强迫情景下对青藏高原未来气候变化进行了预估研究。结果表明, 青藏高原年均地表气温在2006~2100年的线性趋势平均为0.26℃/10a, 增暖幅度与海拔高度大体成正比;相比于1986~2005年参考时段, 2090年代平均升温2.7℃, 21世纪末期增温幅度明显高于早期和中期;在早、中和末期, 年均增温分别为0.8~1.3℃、1.6~2.5℃和2.1~3.1℃;各季节也均为变暖趋势, 其中冬季增温最大。对于年均降水来说, 未来百年将小幅增加, 集合平均趋势为1.15%/10a, 2090年代较参考时段增加10.4%;在早、中和末期的变化范围分别为-1.8%至15.2%、-0.9%至17.8%和1.4%至21.3%;季节降水也呈增加趋势, 夏季增幅明显高于其余三个季节且在21世纪末期较大, 青藏高原未来年均降水增加主要来自于夏季。需要指出的是, 上述预估结果在气候模式间存在着一定的差异, 未来气候变化的不确定性范围较大, 地表气温的可信度相对较高, 而降水的则偏低。     

青藏高原地区气溶胶直接辐射强迫的数值模拟研究

通过比较EMAC模式模拟结果和卫星观测结果证实了模式的可信性,进而利用模拟结果分析研究了2010～2012年青藏高原上空气溶胶光学厚度及其直接辐射强迫的时空分布规律。结果表明:所有气溶胶组分中,沙尘、水溶性气溶胶和气溶胶中液态水是高原的主要消光物质,三者年平均消光占比分别为0.27、0.20和0.49。2011年夏季纳布罗火山爆发,高空气溶胶消光在海拔14 km以上显著增强。青藏高原气溶胶在大气顶和地表的直接辐射强迫分布总体上由北向南递减,沙尘气溶胶在高原北部边缘大气顶产生正辐射强迫,气溶胶大气层直接辐射强迫对大气有增温效应,主要出现在沙尘含量高的地区。此外,受纳布罗火山爆发的影响,平流层气溶胶在2011年秋、冬季产生了明显较强的负辐射强迫,相比于无火山爆发的2010年和 2012年,青藏高原上空平流层气溶胶负辐射强迫在2011年秋季和冬季分别增加了55.50%和52.38%。     

气候变化的归因与预估模拟研究

本文总结了近五年来中国科学院大气物理研究所在气候变暖的归因模拟与预估研究上的主要进展。研究表明,利用海温、太阳辐射和温室气体等实际强迫因子驱动大气环流模式,能够较为合理地模拟全球平均地表气温在20世纪的演变,但是难以模拟出包括北大西洋涛动／北极涛动和南极涛动在内的高纬度环流的长期变化趋势。利用温室气体和硫酸盐气溶胶等“历史资料”驱动气候系统模式,能够较好地模拟出20世纪后期的全球增暖,但如果要再现20世纪前期(1940年代)的变暖,还需同时考虑太阳辐射等自然外强迫因子。20世纪中国气温演变的耦合模式模拟技巧,较之全球平均情况要低;中国气候在1920年代的变暖机理目前尚不清楚。对于近50年中国东部地区“南冷北暖”、“南涝北旱”的气候变化,基于大气环流模式特别是区域气候模式的数值试验表明,夏季硫酸盐气溶胶的负辐射效应超过了温室气体的增暖效应,从而对变冷产生贡献。但现有的数值模拟证据,不足以说明气溶胶增加对“南涝北旱”型降水异常有贡献。20世纪中期以来,青藏高原主体存在明显增温趋势,温室气体浓度的增加对这种增暖有显著贡献。多模式集合预估的未来气候变化表明,21世纪全球平均温度将继续增暖,增温幅度因不同排放情景而异;中国大陆年均表面气温的增暖与全球同步,但增幅在东北、西部和华中地区较大,冬季升温幅度高于夏季、日最低温度升幅要强于日最高温度;全球增暖有可能对我国中东部植被的地理分布产生影响。伴随温室气体增加所导致的夏季平均温度升高,极端温度事件增多;在更暖的气候背景下,中国大部分地区总降水将增多,极端降水强度加大且更频繁发生,极端降水占总降水的比例也将增大。全球增暖有可能令大洋热盐环流减弱,但是减弱的幅度因模式而异。全球增暖可能不是导致北太平洋副热带－热带经圈环流自20世纪70年代以来变弱的原因。文章同时指出了模式预估结果中存在的不确定性。     

近50年中国地面气候变化基本特征

采用国家基准气候站和基本气象站的地面资料,系统地分析了中国大陆地区1951年以来近地表主要气候要素演化的时间和空间特征。结果表明,中国近50 a来年平均地表气温变暖幅度约为1.1℃,增温速率接近0.22℃/(10 a),比全球或半球同期平均增温速率明显偏高。地表气温增暖主要发生在最近的20余年,其季节和空间特征与前人分析结论基本一致。降水量变化趋势对所取时间段和区域范围敏感。1951年以来全国平均降水量变化趋势不明显,但1956年以来略有增加。降水变化的空间特征明显而相对稳定,东北北部、包括长江中下游的东南部地区和西部广大地区降水增加,而华北地区以及东北东南部和西北东部地区降水明显减少。分析还发现,近50a来全国平均的日照时数、平均风速、水面蒸发等气候要素均呈显著下降趋势,但积雪地带的最大积雪深度却有所增加。中国日照时间和水面蒸发量变化的空间特征很相似,减少最明显的地区均发生在华北和华东,新疆次之。影响中国年代以上尺度气候变化的因子错综复杂,人类活动引起的大气中温室气体浓度增高可能在一定程度上影响了中国近50 a来的气候,但考虑到尚存的不确定性,目前仍不能给出明确结论。中国东部大部分地区日照时间和水面蒸发量减少可能均起源于人为排放的气溶胶影响,平均风速减弱也有利于水面蒸发量下降,而在西部地区云量和降水量的变化可能更重要。     

Dependence of climate forcing and response on the altitude of black carbon aerosols

Black carbon aerosols absorb solar radiation and decrease planetary albedo, and thus can contribute to climate warming. In this paper, the dependence of equilibrium climate response on the altitude of black carbon is explored using an atmospheric general circulation model coupled to a mixed layer ocean model. The simulations model aerosol direct and semi-direct effects, but not indirect effects. Aerosol concentrations are prescribed and not interactive. It is shown that climate response of black carbon is highly dependent on the altitude of the aerosol. As the altitude of black carbon increases, surface temperatures decrease; black carbon near the surface causes surface warming, whereas black carbon near the tropopause and in the stratosphere causes surface cooling. This cooling occurs despite increasing planetary absorption of sunlight (i.e. decreasing planetary albedo). We find that the trend in surface air temperature response versus the altitude of black carbon is consistent with our calculations of radiative forcing after the troposphere, stratosphere, and land surface have undergone rapid adjustment, calculated as “regressed” radiative forcing. The variation in climate response from black carbon at different altitudes occurs largely from different fast climate responses; temperature dependent feedbacks are not statistically distinguishable. Impacts of black carbon at various altitudes on the hydrological cycle are also discussed; black carbon in the lowest atmospheric layer increases precipitation despite reductions in solar radiation reaching the surface, whereas black carbon at higher altitudes decreases precipitation.     

Climate of Russia in the 21st century. Part 3. Future climate changes calculated with an ensemble of coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation CMIP3 models

Probable climate changes in Russia in the 21st century are considered based on the results of global climate simulations with an ensemble of coupled atmosphere-ocean CMIP3 models. The future changes in the surface air temperature, atmospheric pressure, cloud amount, atmospheric precipitation, snow cover, soil water content, and annual runoff in Russia and some of its regions in the early, middle, and late 21st century are analyzed using the A2 scenario of the greenhouse gas and aerosol emission. Future changes in the yearly highest and lowest surface air temperatures and in summer precipitation of high intensity are estimated for Russia. Possible oscillations of the Caspian Sea level associated with the expected global climate warming are estimated. In addition to the estimates of the ensemble mean changes in climatic characteristics, the information about standard deviations and statistical significance of the corresponding climate changes is given.     

Is aerosol scattering in the stratosphere a safety technology preventing global warming?

In accordance with numerous investigations, global climate warming due to the increased greenhouse gas content in the atmosphere can significantly influence the environment already in the near decades. In order to mitigate or prevent possible adverse consequences of this warming the technologies on reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as a deliberate interference with climate, including its control, are under consideration. Let us analyze the present investigations on the estimate of the influence of a simultaneous increase in the atmospheric CO₂ concentration and in the stratospheric aerosol on the global and regional climate, ozone layer, and World Ocean acidification. It is noted that the production and subsequent maintenance of the artificial aerosol layer in the stratosphere could, in principle, eliminate or retard climate warming, but it would be accompanied by a decrease in the global precipitation, especially in the tropical zone. Furthermore, the stratospheric aerosol screen does not solve the problem of the atmospheric CO₂ increase, which in turn results in the further World Ocean acidification, and thus has an adverse effect on the marine part of the biosphere. Political and ethic issues connected with the deliberate global man interference with the natural environment are also under considerations.     

2℃全球变暖背景下中国未来气候变化预估

相对于工业化革命前期, 全球年平均地表气温上升2℃的时间和相应的气候变化受到了广泛关注, 特别是包括欧盟成员国在内的许多国家和国际组织已经将避免2℃全球变暖作为温室气体减排的首要目标。为此, 本文作者基于16个气候模式在20世纪气候模拟试验和SRES B1、A1B和A2温室气体和气溶胶排放情景下的数值模拟试验结果, 采用多模式集合方法预估研究了2℃全球变暖发生的时间、对应的大气中主要温室气体浓度以及中国气候变化情况。根据模式集合平均结果, 三种排放情景下2℃全球变暖分别发生在2064年、2046年和2049年, 大气二氧化碳当量浓度分别为625 ppm、645 ppm和669 ppm (1 ppm=10-6)。对应着2℃全球变暖, 中国气候变暖幅度明显更大。从空间分布形势上看, 变暖从南向北加强, 在青藏高原地区存在一个升温大值区; 就整体而言, 中国区域平均的年平均地表气温上升2.7～2.9℃, 冬季升温幅度 (3.1～3.2℃) 要较其他季节更大。年平均降水量在华南大部分地区减少0～5%, 而在其余地区增加0～20%, 中国区域年平均降水增加3.4%～4.4%, 各季节增加量在0.5%～6.6%之间。     

Climate Changes in the 21st Century over the Asia-Pacific Region Simulated by the NCAR CSM and PCM

The Climate System Model (CSM) and the Parallel Climate Model (PCM), two coupled global climate models without flux adjustments recently developed at NCAR, were used to simulate the 20th century climate using historical greenhouse gas and sulfate aerosol forcing. These simulations were extended through the 21st century under two newly developed scenarios, a business-as-usual case (BAU, CO2≈710 ppmv in 2100) and a CO2 stabilization case (STA550, CO2≈540 ppmv in 2100). The simulated changes in temperature, precipitation, and soil moisture over the Asia-Pacific region (10°-60°N, 55°-155°E) are analyzed, with a focus on the East Asian summer monsoon rainfall and climate changes over the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Under the BAU scenario, both the models produce surface warming of about 3-5℃ in winter and 2-3℃ in summer over most Asia. Under the STA550 scenario, the warming is reduced by 0.5-1.0℃ in winter and by 0.5℃ in summer. The warming is fairly uniform at the low latitudes and does not induce significant changes in the zonal mean Hadley circulation over the Asia-Pacific do main. While the regional precipitation changes from single CSM integrations are noisy, the PCM ensemble mean precipitation shows 10%-30% increases north of ～ 30°N and ～ 10% decreases south of ～ 30°N over the Asia-Pacific region in winter and 10%-20% increases in summer precipitation over most of the region. Soil moisture changes are small over most Asia. The CSM single simulation suggests a 30% increase in river runoff into the Three Gorges Dam, but the PCM ensemble simulations show small changes in the runoff.     

A 1-D modelling of climatic and chemical effects of greenhouse gases

Summary A coupled 1-D time-dependent radiative-convective-photochemical diffusion model which extends from the surface to 60 km is used to investigate the potential impact of greenhouse trace gas emissions on long-term changes in global climate, atmospheric ozone and surface UV-B radiation, taking into accoont the influence of aerosol loading into the atmosphere from major volcanic eruptions, of thermal inertia of the upper mixed layer of the ocean and of other radiativephotochemical feedback mechanisms. Experiments are carried out under global and annual average insolation and cloudiness conditions. The transient calculations are made for three different growth scenarios for increase in trace gas concentrations. Scenario 1, which begins in 1850, uses the best estimate values for future trace gas concentrations of CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, CFC-11, CFC-12 and tropospheric O₃, based on current observational trends. Scenarios 2 and 3, which begin in 1990, assume lower and upper ranges, respectively, of observed growth rates to estimate future concentrations.The transient response of the model for Scenario 1 suggests that surface warming of the ocean mixed layer of about 1 K should have taken place between 1850 and 1990 due to a combined increase of atmospheric CO₂ and other trace gases. For the three scenarios considered in this study, the cumulative surface warming induced by all major trace gases for the period 1850 to 2080 ranges from 2.7 K to 8.2 K with the best estimate value of 5 K. The results indicate that the direct and the indirect chemistry-climate interactions of non-CO₂ trace gases contribute significantly to the cumulative surface warming (up to 65% by the year 2080). The thermal inertia of a mixed layer of the ocean is shown to have the effect of delaying equilibrium surface warming by almost three decades with an e-folding time of about 5 years. The volcanic aerosols which would result from major volcanic eruptions play a significant role by interrupting the long-term greenhouse surface warming trend and replacing it by a temporary cooling on a time scale of a decade or less. Furthermore, depending on the scenario used, a reduction in the net ozone column could result in an increase in the solar UV-B radiation at the surface by as much as 300% towards the end of 21st century.With 14 Figures     

Effects of Land Use on the Climate of the United States

Land use practices have replaced much of the natural needleleaf evergreen, broadleaf deciduous, and mixed forests of the Eastern United States with crops. To a lesser extent, the natural grasslands in the Central United States have also been replaced with crops. Simulations with a land surface process model coupled to an atmospheric general circulation model show that the climate of the United States with modern vegetation is significantly different from that with natural vegetation. Three important climate signals caused by modern vegetation are: (1) 1 °C cooling over the Eastern United States and 1 °C warming over the Western United States in spring; (2) summer cooling of up to 2 °C over a wide region of the Central United States; and (3) moistening of the near-surface atmosphere by 0.5 to 1.5 g kg^-1over much of the United States in spring and summer. Although individual months show large, statistically significant differences in precipitation due to land-use practices, these differences average out over the course of the 3-month seasons. These changes in surface temperature and moisture extend well into the atmosphere, up to 500 mb, and affect the boundary layer and atmospheric circulation. The altered climate is due to reduced surface roughness, reduced leaf and stem area index, reduced stomatal resistance, and increased surface albedo with modern vegetation compared to natural vegetation. The climate change caused by land use practices is comparable to other well known anthropogenic climate forcings. For example, it would take 100 to 175 years at the current, observed rate of summer warming over the United States to offset the cooling from deforestation. The summer sulfate aerosol forcing completely offsets the greenhouse forcing over the Eastern United States. Similarly, the climatic effect of North American deforestation, with extensive summer cooling, further offsets the greenhouse forcing.     

大气水汽变化及其反馈效应研究进展

大气水汽变化的反馈作用是影响平衡气候系统敏感性的最大反馈作用之一,能够放大其他温室气体增暖的效应,并可能导致极端天气气候事件的发生趋多趋强。因此,全面分析大气水汽的时空分布特征及其长期变化趋势,评估大气水汽反馈的区域气候效应,对于我们深入认识和理解全球变暖背景下区域气候响应的机理具有重要意义。综合国内外最新研究,已基本能够确定水汽反馈效应为一种使得全球增暖加快近一倍的强烈正反馈,并已能够估计其大致变化范围,但是此估计仍存在较大不确定性。随着卫星和探空技术的发展,目前已有的长期水汽资料日趋丰富,但资料之间也存在一些不确定性问题,同时单个资料本身也存在非均一性问题。最新的气候系统模式已能够大致模拟大气水汽的反馈效应,但近年的进展速度却并不令人乐观。我国的水汽观测和水汽反馈效应的研究也已取得长足进步,可以基本确定为水汽变化与地面温度存在正反馈关系,而与降水的关系虽然也较为密切,但因区域气候变化仍存在较大的不一致性。     

全球气候变暖的检测及成因分析

文章对近年来有关全球气候变暖中一些问题的研究进展作了总结，主要结论如下:全球平均地面气温在过去一百年来上升0.5℃。80年代是近百年来最暖的10年。90年代初继续变暖。1990年是近百年来最暖的一年。1991年仅次於1990年。但是近百年气候变暖的幅度仍未超过自然变率。近千年中，中世纪暖期（900—1300年）的温暖程度就可能与20世纪相当，而小冰期（1550—1850年）气温则可能比20世纪低1.0—1.5℃。已经证实，对几十年到几百年尺度，太阳活动强时太阳总辐射也强，但变化幅度尚待进一步确定。强火山爆     

Correlation between climate sensitivity and aerosol forcing and its implication for the “climate trap”

Climate sensitivity and aerosol forcing are dominant uncertain properties of the global climate system. Their estimates based on the inverse approach are interdependent as historical temperature records constrain possible combinations. Nevertheless, many literature projections of future climate are based on the probability density of climate sensitivity and an independent aerosol forcing without considering the interdependency of such estimates. Here we investigate how large such parameter interdependency affects the range of future warming in two distinct settings: one following the A1B emission scenario till the year 2100 and the other assuming a shutdown of all greenhouse gas and aerosol emissions in the year 2020. We demonstrate that the range of projected warming decreases in the former case, but considerably broadens in the latter case, if the correlation between climate sensitivity and aerosol forcing is taken into account. Our conceptual study suggests that, unless the interdependency between the climate sensitivity and aerosol forcing estimates is properly considered, one could underestimate a risk involving the “climate trap”, an unpalatable situation with a high climate sensitivity in which a very drastic mitigation may counter-intuitively accelerate the warming by unmasking the hidden warming due to aerosols.