Natural climate drivers include changes in the sun’s energy output, regular changes in Earth’s orbital cycle, and large volcanic eruptions that put light-reflecting particles into the upper atmosphere. Source: IPCC AR5 WG1 Figure SPM.5.Īnother way to refer to climate forcings is to call them climate drivers. To document how the atmosphere has changed since then, scientists calculate current RF levels as if it were zero in 1750. Prior to 1750, before the Industrial Revolution, Earth’s average RF remained relatively stable. Conversely, if outgoing energy is greater than incoming energy, the planet will cool. When forcings result in incoming energy being greater than outgoing energy, the planet will warm (positive RF). In the same way as applying a pushing force to a physical object will cause it to become unbalanced and move, a climate forcing factor will change the climate system. The difference between incoming and outgoing radiation is known as a planet’s radiative forcing (RF). In accordance with the basic laws of thermodynamics, as Earth absorbs energy from the sun, it must eventually emit an equal amount of energy to space. Incoming Energy – Outgoing Energy = Radiative Forcing This process is the naturally occurring greenhouse effect, and it keeps Earth warm enough to support life. The mix of gases in our atmosphere keeps some of the heat energy from escaping directly to space, similar to the way a blanket keeps warmth near your body. This heat provides further warming of the atmosphere. Sunlight energy heats land and water at the surface, and in turn, they emit heat. A portion of the energy that arrives at Earth is reflected back into space, another portion is absorbed directly by the atmosphere, and the remainder moves through the atmosphere to the surface. Energy from the Sun Interacts with Land, Water, and AirĮarth is continually bathed in energy from the sun.
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