A comparison of signals of regional aerosol-induced forcing in eastern China and the southeastern United States

This paper compares the temperature change patterns and the signals of regi onal aerosol-induced forcing in eastern China and the southeastern US durin g the latter half of the twentieth century. Both regions show decreasing tr ends in the mean maximum temperature over recent decades and the cooling ef fect of Pinatubo volcanic aerosols. In contrast to the southeastern US, we found a slight overall warming trend in eastern China. Our analysis suggest s that in addition to greenhouse warming effect, observed high concentratio ns of absorbing aerosols over eastern China during winter and spring might be one of the major reasons for the observed warming trend.