What are the likely negative feedback systems that might mitigate anthropogenic climate change?
The atmosphere is not well mixed over large regions on the timescale of radiative transfer. If, by some complex fluid dynamics in the atmosphere, the temperature differences between regions increase contrary to the meteorological norm then increased radiation from warmer region will offset the general rise in temperature. To illustrate, consider a grossly simplified model in which the globe composed of two regions of equal area at temperatures T1 and T2. If the average temperature is 290 K and T1 – T2 = 12.8 K, a net negative feedback of 1 W/m^2 is produced. There is no evidence that temperature differences between regions have increased enough to significantly offset the radiative forcing from CO2. Secondly biological activity may produce a negative feedback. The temperature of Lake Winnipeg has increased by 2 C. The increase is in line with global warming predictions for this latitude. The rise in temperature, together with an increased nutrient load, has caused a bloom of cyanobacte
