The dependence of aerosols' global and local precipitation impacts on the emitting region

Abstract. The influence of the geographic distribution aerosol emissions on magnitude and spatial pattern their precipitation impacts remains poorly understood. In this study, global climate model NCAR CESM1 (National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Earth System Model version 1.2) is used in coupled atmosphere–slab ocean mode to simulate hydrological-cycle response a fixed amount composition emitted from eight key source regions. results indicate that location strong determinant both hydrological response. global-mean found vary over 6-fold range depending solely location. Mid-latitude sources generate larger responses than do tropical sub-tropical sources, driven largely by former's stronger temperature influence. However, some (largely sub-tropical) regional almost entirely localized within region, while other (primarily mid-latitude) are remote. It proposed diversity arises differing strength with which each region's fast remain localized. findings highlight regions particularly susceptible change either local or remote emissions, encourage greater investigation processes controlling localization aerosols, demonstrate anthropogenic must be considered when estimating impacts.