Anthropogenic and Natural Radiative Forcing: Positive Feedbacks
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Some interesting ideas are presented about how to evaluate the anthropogenic contribution to climate change, and in identifying regions which respond more strongly to climate change, or are more strongly amplify anthropogenic changes. While these ideas will be of interest, there are some elements in the paper that require attention.
41 Explain the structure of the rest of the paper in more detail at the end of the Introduction
68 It has been suggested that GRWs control the variations.. [the current statement is a bit strong, given that it is supported by only one self-citation]
79 I’m not certain it’s reasonable to regard the gyres as quasi-isolated – there are very strong poleward heat transports in the North Atlantic Ocean, for example, with substantial differences between the fluxes at the northern and southern boundaries (see, for example Ganachaud & Wunsch, Nature 408, pp 453–457 (23 November 2000)).
100 This paragraph would benefit from some schematic figures to help with the explanation.
148 that best represent the gridded
164 regardless of the latitude.
Author Response
Reviewer #1
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Some interesting ideas are presented about how to evaluate the anthropogenic contribution to climate change, and in identifying regions which respond more strongly to climate change, or are more strongly amplify anthropogenic changes. While these ideas will be of interest, there are some elements in the paper that require attention.
41 Explain the structure of the rest of the paper in more detail at the end of the Introduction
OK see lines 40-47
68 It has been suggested that GRWs control the variations.. [the current statement is a bit strong, given that it is supported by only one self-citation]
OK
79 I’m not certain it’s reasonable to regard the gyres as quasi-isolated – there are very strong poleward heat transports in the North Atlantic Ocean, for example, with substantial differences between the fluxes at the northern and southern boundaries (see, for example Ganachaud & Wunsch, Nature 408, pp 453–457 (23 November 2000)).
Effectively, this lack of clarity. Also I give further information Lines 94-109.
100 This paragraph would benefit from some schematic figures to help with the explanation.
A new figure 1 is added.
148 that best represent the gridded
Thanks!
164 regardless of the latitude.
OK
Reviewer 2 Report
This paper deals with the hypothesis that solar forcing has an important role in modulating recent anthropogenic climate change through a positive feedback involving the resonance of long-period Rossby waves in the subtropical gyres.
The paper is based on good scientific principles and it constitutes a starting point to evaluate this positive feedback more thoroughly by looking at the suggested properties such as lapse-rate and high clouds.
The objectives are clearly stated. The methods are solid para the authors should explain/detail some of them as suggested below. The results are presented and the conclusions are in line with those. Some of the statements in the conclusions and abstract should be written more cautiously (see below).
7 out of 21 refs are self-citations
The statement in the abstract ' This confirms that the lapse rate and the high troposphere cloud cover have a 15 driving role in the amplification effect of anthropogenic climate forcing' appears to be too strong in the sense that the authors hasn't explicitly analysed the lapse rate and high troposphere cloud changes.
Please cite reference(s) about cross-wavelet power or explain briefly.
Line 27 - support this statement with references
Line 33 - ' which is supported by both theoretical and observational studies [7, 8].' These references are self-cited. Are there any other work which may support this statement?
Lines from 52 to 62 - Please say what is stated is from refs[7,8] or, else, include other refs.
Line 197 - Define cross-wavelet power and units (%)
Line 197 - Define and explain how is 'reduced rainfall height, scale-averaged....' calculated
Line 198 and 199 - Which SOI is used?
Line 206. The authors should detail more what he says starting from 'On the other hand.......'
Lines 211-212. Please show evidence of is said in lines 211 and 212
Lines 214 - Please show evidence of is said in paragraph starting with 'In contrast.....'
The paper may be considered for publication after consideration of the above mentioned aspects and an english revision.
Author Response
Reviewer #2
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
This paper deals with the hypothesis that solar forcing has an important role in modulating recent anthropogenic climate change through a positive feedback involving the resonance of long-period Rossby waves in the subtropical gyres.
The paper is based on good scientific principles and it constitutes a starting point to evaluate this positive feedback more thoroughly by looking at the suggested properties such as lapse-rate and high clouds.
The objectives are clearly stated. The methods are solid para the authors should explain/detail some of them as suggested below. The results are presented and the conclusions are in line with those. Some of the statements in the conclusions and abstract should be written more cautiously (see below).
7 out of 21 refs are self-citations
Thanks to your suggestions a lot of references are added.
The statement in the abstract ' This confirms that the lapse rate and the high troposphere cloud cover have a driving role in the amplification effect of anthropogenic climate forcing' appears to be too strong in the sense that the authors hasn't explicitly analyzed the lapse rate and high troposphere cloud changes.
OK replaced by ‘This suggests that the lapse rate…’
Please cite reference(s) about cross-wavelet power or explain briefly.
References [12] and [19] are recalled and further explanation is given in the caption of Figure 6, comparing the Cross-Wavelet and the Complex Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analyses (the latter is more familiar to marine scientists and climatologists).
Line 27 - support this statement with references
References [1-10] are added.
Line 33 - ' which is supported by both theoretical and observational studies [7, 8].' These references are self-cited. Are there any other work which may support this statement?
To my knowledge there is no other reference.
Lines from 52 to 62 - Please say what is stated from refs [7, 8] or, else, include other refs.
This article is the culmination of a long research work that has highlighted the role of Rossby waves of very long period winding around the subtropical gyres, what are called ‘Gyral Rossby Waves’. Several of the recent author's papers deal with the properties of these waves. But they have been published in recent months and the results have not yet had the time to disseminate in the scientific world, hence a redundancy of self-citations. Lines 52 to 62 are derived from references [7, 8].
Line 197 - Define cross-wavelet power and units (%)
Line 197 - Define and explain how is 'reduced rainfall height, scale-averaged....' calculated
Further explanation is given in Figure 6
Line 198 and 199 - Which SOI is used?
Further explanation is given in Figure 6
Line 206. The author should detail more what he says starting from 'On the other hand.......'
Further explanation is given lines 300-304.
Lines 211-212. Please show evidence of is said in lines 211 and 212
Further explanation is given lines 306-312.
Lines 214 - Please show evidence of is said in paragraph starting with 'In contrast.....'
Further explanation is given lines 281-286.
The paper may be considered for publication after consideration of the above mentioned aspects and an
