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Chapter 18: Problem 6

What is radiative forcing? Describe some warming and cooling forcing agents.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Radiative forcing quantifies changes in Earth's energy balance. Warming causes include greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, and deforestation. Cooling causes include aerosols and afforestation.

Step by step solution

01

Introduction to Radiative Forcing

Radiative forcing is a concept used in climate science to quantify changes in Earth's energy balance. It defines the difference between the solar radiation absorbed by Earth and the energy radiated back into space. Positive radiative forcing increases the Earth’s temperature (a warming effect) while negative radiative forcing decreases it (a cooling effect). It’s measured in Watts per square meter (\( W/m^2 \)).
02

Warming Agents

Warming forcing agents or positive radiative forcing agents include greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (\(CO_2\)), methane (\(CH_4\)), and nitrous oxide (\(N_2O\)), as well as changes in land use like deforestation that decreases Earth's albedo or reflectivity, causing more sunlight to be absorbed.
03

Cooling Agents

Cooling forcing agents or negative radiative forcing agents include aerosols, which are tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere. They can come from volcanic eruptions or human activity. They scatter and absorb sunlight before it can reach the surface, thus cooling the planet. Changes in land use like afforestation can also cool the earth by increasing Earth's albedo.

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