The implication of radiative forcing and feedback for meridional energy transport

The distributions of radiative forcing and feedback in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 abrupt4xCO2 and Historical experiments are diagnosed, with a focus on their effects on the zonal mean structure of the top-of-the-atmosphere radiation anomalies and implications for the meridional energy transport. It is found that because the greenhouse gas longwave forcing peaks in the low latitudes, it reinforces the equator-to-pole net radiation gradient and accounts for the increase in the poleward energy transport in both hemispheres under global warming. The shortwave forcing by aerosol, ozone, etc. peaks in the Northern Hemisphere and instead implies an interhemispheric energy transport. Although the water vapor feedback also reinforces the equator-to-pole gradient of the net radiation, the temperature and albedo feedback act against it. The feedback tend to offset the zonal mean radiation anomaly caused by the forcing, although the overall feedback effect on the energy transport is rather uncertain, mainly due to the uncertainty in the cloud feedback. Key Points CO2 forcing increases meridional gradient in net radiation Forcing, rather than feedback, accounts for enhanced poleward energy transport Aerosol forcing accounts for an inter-hemispheric transport anomaly