Because aerosol-cloud interactions are the most uncertain climate forcing in the Earth system, it is important to better understand the aerosol-cloud interactions, especially how they will change with climate. This study carries out large eddy simulations (LES) of a 3-day stratocumulus-to-cumulus transition (SCT) along an airmass-following trajectory in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. By perturbing aerosol concentrations within the marine boundary layer (MBL) in the SCT simulations, we evaluate aerosol-cloud interactions in both the present day as well as in a double-CO2 climate. We find that aerosol-induced cloud changes, including first (Twomey effect) and second adjustments of cloud fraction and liquid water path (LWP) indirect effects of aerosols, tend to be inhibited in a double-CO2 climate. The LWP adjustment is more sensitive to global warming than the Twomey effect. By decomposing the aerosol-induced cloud radiative effect change (ΔCRE), we find that the aerosol-induced cloud fraction change (ΔCF) shows the largest contribution to ΔCRE in our simulations. Aerosol-induced droplet number concentration change (ΔNc) shows a cooling effect, while the LWP change shows a warming effect that is consistent with aerosol-induced cloud thinning. Overall, the cooling effect associated with increased aerosol concentrations will weaken in a double-CO2 climate. Our results can also help to understand and predict the cooling potential of marine cloud brightening (MCB) in a changing climate.

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