2008/12/02 by Robert S. Knox, Knox, Robert S., Kevin J. LaTourette +1
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Atmospheric aerosols and clouds #Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics (physics.ao-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Geophysics (physics.geo-ph) #Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations #Wind and Air Flow Studies #physics.ao-ph #physics.geo-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0812.0573
29 pages, 2 tables, 4 figures. Version 2: Abstract shortened. Typos corrected in eqs. 5, 6, 9, 10. No changes in physics or results
openalex publication_date 2008/12/02 · arxiv created 2009/01/21 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We analyze the global temperature change due to the Mt. Pinatubo eruption using a simple two-layer model of the atmosphere and surface to obtain results consistent with satellite data. Through analytic and numerical analysis we find a principal characteristic response time of 5 to 8 months and a climate sensitivity of 0.17 to 0.20 C/(W/m2), corresponding to a negative instantaneous feedback. Our solutions were fit to the data, reproducing the results of a one-box model, and providing somewhat more detailed information about the feedbacks related to surface layer temperature. The formalism for coupling of the surface layer to the thermocline is set up but not applied.