Earth is trapping much more heat than climate models forecast
10 months ago
- #global warming
- #energy imbalance
- #climate change
- Measuring climate change can be done by tracking Earth's energy budget, which is now out of balance.
- The energy imbalance has more than doubled over the last 20 years, reaching about 1.3 W/m² recently.
- This imbalance suggests climate change might accelerate, with potential for more severe impacts.
- Earth's energy budget works like a bank account, with incoming solar energy and outgoing heat.
- Greenhouse gases trap more heat, with 90% of excess heat absorbed by oceans.
- Average global temperatures have risen 1.3-1.5°C due to this energy imbalance.
- Scientists track the energy budget via satellite radiometers and ocean temperature readings.
- Climate models underestimated the rapid growth of the energy imbalance.
- Changes in cloud cover may be a significant factor in the accelerating imbalance.
- The findings imply more intense climate impacts like heatwaves, droughts, and marine heatwaves.
- Some models with higher climate sensitivity align better with real-world data, predicting worse long-term warming.
- Continued satellite monitoring is crucial, but funding cuts in the U.S. threaten this capability.
- The solution remains reducing fossil fuel use and deforestation to restore balance.