Changes in Earth's Energy Imbalance Since 2000
Author Information
Author(s): Norman G. Loeb, Seung-Hee Ham, Richard P. Allan, Tyler J. Thorsen, Benoit Meyssignac, Seiji Kato, Gregory C. Johnson, John M. Lyman
Primary Institution: NASA Langley Research Center
Hypothesis
How has Earth's energy imbalance changed since 2000?
Conclusion
Earth's energy imbalance has doubled from 0.5 to 1.0 Wm−2 over the past two decades, indicating accelerated climate warming.
Supporting Evidence
- Earth's energy imbalance has increased significantly over the past two decades.
- Satellite data show a marked increase in absorbed solar radiation.
- Outgoing longwave radiation has also increased but to a lesser extent.
- Changes in cloud cover are contributing to the observed trends in energy imbalance.
Takeaway
The Earth is absorbing more energy from the sun than it is releasing back into space, which is causing it to warm up faster.
Methodology
Satellite observations from the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) were used to assess changes in Earth's energy imbalance.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in satellite data and model simulations may affect the accuracy of the results.
Limitations
The observational record is too short to fully understand the robustness of the findings.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.5
Confidence Interval
0.5 ± 0.2 Wm−2
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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