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The Dust Settles on Water Vapor Feedback

2002; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 296; Issue: 5568 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1126/science.1071400

1095-9203

Anthony D. Del Genio,

Atmospheric aerosols and clouds

Water vapor could almost double the sensitivity of climate to greenhouse gas increases, but doubts about the sign and magnitude of the effect persist. In his Perspective, Del Genio highlights the report by Soden et al., who demonstrate that the volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 caused a positive water vapor feedback. A general circulation model reproduces this global feedback accurately. The results suggest that a substantial water vapor feedback can also be expected in response to anthropogenic climate forcing.