Satellite and Ocean Data Reveal Marked Increase in Earth’s Heating Rate

Loeb, Norman G.; Johnson, Gregory C.; Thorsen, Tyler J.; Lyman, John M.; Rose, Fred G.; Kato, Seiji

doi:10.1029/2021GL093047

i

Satellite and Ocean Data Reveal Marked Increase in Earth’s Heating Rate

2021
By: Loeb, Norman G. ; Johnson, Gregory C. ; Thorsen, Tyler J.
Source: Geophysical Research Letters, 48, e2021GL093047
Series: PMEL contribution no. 5196

Details

Journal Title:

Geophysical Research Letters
Personal Author:

Loeb, Norman G. ; Johnson, Gregory C. ; Thorsen, Tyler J. ; Lyman, John M. ; Rose, Fred G. ; Kato, Seiji
NOAA Program & Office:

OAR (Oceanic and Atmospheric Research) ; PMEL (Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory) ; JIMAR (Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research)
Description:

Earth's Energy Imbalance (EEI) is a relatively small (presently ∼0.3%) difference between global mean solar radiation absorbed and thermal infrared radiation emitted to space. EEI is set by natural and anthropogenic climate forcings and the climate system's response to those forcings. It is also influenced by internal variations within the climate system. Most of EEI warms the ocean; the remainder heats the land, melts ice, and warms the atmosphere. We show that independent satellite and in situ observations each yield statistically indistinguishable decadal increases in EEI from mid-2005 to mid-2019 of 0.50 ± 0.47 W m−2 decade−1 (5%–95% confidence interval). This trend is primarily due to an increase in absorbed solar radiation associated with decreased reflection by clouds and sea-ice and a decrease in outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) due to increases in trace gases and water vapor. These changes combined exceed a positive trend in OLR due to increasing global mean temperatures.
Keywords:
Source:

Geophysical Research Letters, 48, e2021GL093047
Series:

PMEL contribution no. 5196
DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL093047
Document Type:

Journal Article
Rights Information:

CC BY
Compliance:

Submitted
Download URL:

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/45448/noaa_45448_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 1.13 MB]
Collection(s):

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) ; NOAA Cooperative Institutes
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha256:d035408d8f2ddc050483b1009247b6cea9647fe2ed0363985935e9fb3e3f08cc

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