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Science 21 January 1983:
Vol. 219. no. 4582, pp. 284 - 285
DOI: 10.1126/science.219.4582.284
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Articles

Topography, Albedo-Temperature Feedback, and Climate Sensitivity

G. EDWARD BIRCHFIELD 1 and JOHANNES WERTMAN 2

1 Departments of Geological Sciences and Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60201
2 Departments of Geological Sciences and Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University

Numerical experiments with an energy balance model of the earth's climate suggest an enhancement of albedo-temperature feedback caused by the presence of a high middle-latitude plateau in the zonally averaged Northern Hemisphere topography. The increased climate sensitivity arises from the increased rate of change of snow cover produced by the advance or retreat of the winter snow line over the north slope of this topographic feature.

Submitted on February 3, 1982
Revised on September 20, 1982

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)