The impact of secondary inorganic aerosol emissions change on surface air temperature in the Northern Hemisphere

Using the Community Earth System Model (CESM) version 1.2, this study investigates the changes in secondary inorganic aerosols (SIOAs) over the Northern Hemisphere from 1850 to 2007, regional contributions, and consequences on surface air temperature. Results show that SIOAs changes can be divided into two stages. At the first stage (1850–1980), European and North American SIOAs concentrations increase, with a cooling effect especially over Europe and Eastern Siberia. At the second stage (1980–2007), SIOAs concentrations over Europe and North America are reduced with a warming effect in the mid-high latitudes, whereas SIOAs increase over East Asia and South Asia leading to a cooling effect there. The temperature changes over the emission source regions are mainly driven by radiative forcing. Horizontal transfer of heat leads to a temperature response in the Siberian region.