Historical and future anthropogenic warming effects on droughts, fires and fire emissions of CO₂ and PM_2.5 in equatorial Asia when 2015-like El Niño events occur

• Main Authors: H. Shiogama, R. Hirata, T. Hasegawa, S. Fujimori, N. N. Ishizaki, S. Chatani, M. Watanabe, D. Mitchell, Y. T. E. Lo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2020-05-01
• Series: Earth System Dynamics
• Online Access: https://www.earth-syst-dynam.net/11/435/2020/esd-11-435-2020.pdf
• ISSN: 2190-4979; 2190-4987

<p>In 2015, El Niño contributed to severe droughts in equatorial Asia (EA). The severe droughts enhanced fire activity in the dry season (June–November), leading to massive fire emissions of <span class="inline-formula">CO₂</span> and aerosols. Based on large event attribution ensembles of the MIROC5 atmospheric global climate model, we suggest that historical anthropogenic warming increased the chances of meteorological droughts exceeding the 2015 observations in the EA area. We also investigate changes in drought in future climate simulations, in which prescribed sea surface temperature data have the same spatial patterns as the 2015 El Niño with long-term warming trends. Large probability increases of stronger droughts than the 2015 event are projected when events like the 2015 El Niño occur in the 1.5 and 2.0&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">^∘</span>C warmed climate ensembles according to the Paris Agreement goals. Further drying is projected in the 3.0&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">^∘</span>C ensemble according to the current mitigation policies of nations.</p> <p>We use observation-based empirical functions to estimate burned area, fire <span class="inline-formula">CO₂</span> emissions and fine (<span class="inline-formula"><i>&lt;</i>2.5</span>&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">µ</span>m) particulate matter (PM<span class="inline-formula">_2.5</span>) emissions from these simulations of precipitation. There are no significant increases in the chances of burned area and <span class="inline-formula">CO₂</span> and PM<span class="inline-formula">_2.5</span> emissions exceeding the 2015 observations due to past anthropogenic climate change. In contrast, even if the 1.5 and 2.0&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">^∘</span>C goals are achieved, there are significant increases in the burned area and <span class="inline-formula">CO₂</span> and PM<span class="inline-formula">_2.5</span> emissions. If global warming reaches 3.0&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">^∘</span>C, as is expected from the current mitigation policies of nations, the chances of burned areas and <span class="inline-formula">CO₂</span> and PM<span class="inline-formula">_2.5</span> emissions exceeding the 2015 observed values become approximately 100&thinsp;%, at least in the single model ensembles.</p> <p>We also compare changes in fire <span class="inline-formula">CO₂</span> emissions due to climate change and the land-use <span class="inline-formula">CO₂</span> emission scenarios of five shared socioeconomic pathways, where the effects of climate change on fire are not considered. There are two main implications. First, in a national policy context, future EA climate policy will need to consider these climate change effects regarding both mitigation and adaptation aspects. Second is the consideration of fire increases changing global <span class="inline-formula">CO₂</span> emissions and mitigation strategies, which suggests that future climate change mitigation studies should consider these factors.</p>