Archean radiative forcings

Introduction Conclusions References Tables Figures Back Close Full Screen / Esc This discussion paper is/has been under review for the journal Climate of the Past (CP). Please refer to the corresponding final paper in CP if available. Abstract Introduction Conclusions References Tables Figures Back Close Full Screen / Esc Abstract Previous research has shown that methane may have been sustained at high concentrations in the Archean atmosphere, helping to offset lower insolation and solve the faint young sun problem. However, recent updates to the HITRAN line database have significantly increased the shortwave absorption by CH 4 in comparison to older versions of 5 the database (e.g., HITRAN 2000). Here we investigate the climatological implications of strong shortwave CH 4 absorption in an Archean atmosphere rich in CH 4. We show that the surface warming at CH 4 abundances > 10 −3 is greatly diminished relative to the HITRAN 2000 line data. Strong shortwave absorption also results in a warm stratosphere and lower tropopause. We discuss these results in the context of contemporary 10 research of the Archean climate and how these results could affect the formation of stratospheric clouds and an organic haze.