Is there warming in the pipeline? A multi-model analysis of the zero emissions commitment from CO2
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Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The Zero Emissions Commitment (ZEC) is the change in global mean temperature expected to occur following the cessation of net CO2 emissions and as such is a critical parameter for calculating the remaining carbon budget. The Zero Emissions Commitment Model Intercomparison Project (ZECMIP) was established to gain a better understanding of the potential magnitude and sign of ZEC, in addition to the processes that underlie this metric. A total of 18 Earth system models of both full and intermediate complexity participated in ZECMIP. All models conducted an experiment where atmospheric CO2 concentration increases exponentially until 1000 PgC has been emitted. Thereafter emissions are set to zero and models are configured to allow free evolution of atmospheric CO2 concentration. Many models conducted additional second-priority simulations with different cumulative emission totals and an alternative idealized emissions pathway with a gradual transition to zero emissions. The inter-model range of ZEC 50 years after emissions cease for the 1000 PgC experiment is −0.36 to 0.29 ∘C, with a model ensemble mean of −0.07 ∘C, median of −0.05 ∘C, and standard deviation of 0.19 ∘C. Models exhibit a wide variety of behaviours after emissions cease, with some models continuing to warm for decades to millennia and others cooling substantially. Analysis shows that both the carbon uptake by the ocean and the terrestrial biosphere are important for counteracting the warming effect from the reduction in ocean heat uptake in the decades after emissions cease. This warming effect is difficult to constrain due to high uncertainty in the efficacy of ocean heat uptake. Overall, the most likely value of ZEC on multi-decadal timescales is close to zero, consistent with previous model experiments and simple theory.
Date Acceptance
2020-05-15
Citation
Biogeosciences, 17 (11), pp.2987-3016
ISSN
1726-4170
Publisher
Copernicus Publications
Start Page
2987
End Page
3016
Journal / Book Title
Biogeosciences
Volume
17
Issue
11
Copyright Statement
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Sponsor
Commission of the European Communities
Identifier
https://www.biogeosciences.net/17/2987/2020/
Grant Number
820829
Subjects
04 Earth Sciences
05 Environmental Sciences
06 Biological Sciences
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2020-06-15