Climate response and radiative forcing from mineral aerosols during the last glacial maximum pre-industrial, current and doubled-carbon dioxide climates

Modeled globally averaged dust loadings change by +88%, +31% and -60% in the last glacial maximum, pre-industrial and future climates, respectively, relative to the current climate. Model results show globally averaged dust radiative forcing at the top of atmosphere is -1.0, -0.4 and +0.14 W/m² for the last glacial maximum, pre-industrial and doubled-carbon dioxide climates, respectively, relative to the current climate.

Globally averaged surface temperature changed by -0.85, -0.22, and +0.06 °C relative to the current climate in the last glacial maximum, pre-industrial and doubled carbon dioxide climates, respectively, due solely to the dust radiative forcing changes simulated here. These simulations only include natural dust source response to climate change, and neglect possible impacts by human land and water use.