Toward Regional-Scale Climate Change Detection

Using an optimal detection technique, the extent to which the combined effect of changes in greenhouse gases and sulfate aerosols (GS) may be detected in observed surface temperatures is assessed in six spatial domains decreasing in size from the globe to Eurasia and North America, separately. The GS signal is detected in the annual mean near-surface temperatures of the past 50 yr in all domains. It is also detected in some seasonal mean temperatures of the past 50 yr, with detection in more seasons in larger domains.