Forcing dataset updates impact regional but not global Earth radiation budget trends in the GFDL AM4 climate model.

Using the CMIP7 forcing dataset (extended through 2021) in the GFDL AM4 model under SSP2-4.5 does not improve global-mean top-of-atmosphere radiation trend agreement with satellites.

• Why it matters: Up-to-date forcing data are needed to reconcile climate model simulations with contemporary observations, but the impact of forcing updates on radiation-budget trends is uncertain.
• What they did: They reran GFDL AM4 with updated CMIP7 forcings for 2001–2021 under SSP2-4.5, then compared simulated global and regional top-of-atmosphere radiation trends against satellite observations.
• The result: Regionally, East Asia shows accelerated sulfate and black carbon aerosol reductions linked to a significant decline in atmospheric solar absorption that matches observations, while higher-latitude organic aerosol increases produce a localized atmospheric absorption rise that does not match.

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