RCP60

RCP60 is a hypothetical representative concentration pathway (RCP) used in climate modeling. Representative concentration pathways are scenarios of future greenhouse gas concentrations and emissions used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to provide a basis for climate change research. RCP60, specifically, represents a stabilization scenario where total radiative forcing reaches 6.0 watts per square meter by 2100.

In this scenario, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise for some time but then decline after mid-century. This implies significant global efforts to reduce emissions, but not as stringent as some other RCP scenarios like RCP2.6, which aims for a net negative radiative forcing. The radiative forcing of 6.0 W/m² is considerably higher than pre-industrial levels, leading to substantial warming and associated climate impacts.

Models using RCP60 project significant increases in global average surface temperature, sea level rise, and changes in precipitation patterns compared to pre-industrial conditions. The exact magnitude of these changes depends on the specific climate models used and their representations of climate feedbacks. RCP60 serves as an important intermediate scenario for understanding the range of potential future climate outcomes and the effectiveness of different mitigation strategies. It helps researchers explore the consequences of a world where emissions are eventually controlled but not aggressively curtailed early on.