Short-lived climate forcers

Climate Change 2021 – The Physical Science Basis, Annex VII: Glossary, written by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and published by Cambridge University Press in 2023, defines short-lived climate forcers (SLCFs) as: ‘A set of chemically reactive compounds with short (relative to carbon dioxide (CO2)) atmospheric lifetimes (from hours to about two decades) but characterized by different physiochemical properties and environmental effects. Their emission or formation has a significant effect on radiative forcing over a period determined by their respective atmospheric lifetimes. Changes in their emissions can also induce long-term climate effects via, in particular, their interactions with some biogeochemical cycles. SLCFs are classified as direct or indirect, with direct SLCFs exerting climate effects through their radiative forcing and indirect SLCFs being the precursors of other direct climate forcers. Direct SLCFs include methane (CH4 ), ozone (O3 ), primary aerosols and some halogenated species. Indirect SLCFs are precursors of ozone or secondary aerosols. SLCFs can be cooling or warming through interactions with radiation and clouds. They are also referred to as near-term climate forcers. Many SLCFs are also air pollutants. A subset of exclusively warming SLCFs is also referred to as short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), including methane, ozone, and black carbon (BC).’

Global Warming of 1.5 ºC, Glossary, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2018, suggests that short-lived climate forcers (SLCF) are: ‘…a set of compounds that are primarily composed of those with short lifetimes in the atmosphere compared to well-mixed greenhouse gases, and are also referred to as near-term climate forcers. This set of compounds includes methane (CH4), which is also a well-mixed greenhouse gas, as well as ozone (O3) and aerosols, or their precursors, and some halogenated species that are not well-mixed greenhouse gases. These compounds do not accumulate in the atmosphere at decadal to centennial time scales, and so their effect on climate is predominantly in the first decade after their emission, although their changes can still induce long-term climate effects such as sea level change. Their effect can be cooling or warming. A subset of exclusively warming short-lived climate forcers is referred to as short-lived climate pollutants.’

See also: Long-lived climate forcers.

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• Adaptability.
• Adaptation.
• Climate.
• Climate change
• Kyoto Protocol.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
• Long-lived climate forcers.