Quantitative analysis of surface warming amplification over the Tibetan Plateau after the late 1990s using surface energy balance equation

Abstract

Abstract Land surface warming is amplified over the Tibetan Plateau ( TP ) compared with the global climate warming hiatus since the end of the 1990s. Based on in situ observations and two reanalysis datasets, the processes involved were investigated by calculating partial temperature changes using the surface energy budget equation. The results indicated that the enhanced downward longwave radiation under clear‐sky condition and the positive surface albedo feedback ( SAF ) related to the reduced snow cover are responsible for the pronounced surface warming, especially in winter. Meanwhile, the changes in cloud radiative forcing, surface sensible and latent heat fluxes (H + LE ), and heat storage (Q) had a much weaker cooling effect. These results indicate that the enhancement of downward clear‐sky longwave radiative fluxes and SAF have played an important role in the accelerated surface warming over the TP during recent decades.