For example: Solar radiation warms earth's surface Liquid water evaporates from the warm surface Water vapor mixes upward into the atmosphere but remains gaseous Water vapor absorbs terrestrial radiation emitted from the surface Energy absorbed by the atmosphere is re-radiated back to the surface The "trapping" of the terrestrial radiational energy leads to even more surface warming Surface warming ==> (A series of events) ==> More Surface Warming This is a positive feedback Cycles Cycles are a series of negative feedbacks where each feedback loop overshoots a bit.
(the surface Energy; absorbed; by the atmosphere) (each feedback loop; overshoots; a bit; L:negative feedbacks) (Solar radiation warms earth's surface Liquid water; mixes; upward; into the atmosphere) (terrestrial radiation emitted from the surface Energy; is re-radiated; back to the surface) (terrestrial radiation; emitted; from the surface Energy)
the surface Energy each feedback loop Solar radiation warms earth's surface Liquid water terrestrial radiation emitted from the surface Energy terrestrial radiation
absorbed overshoots mixes is re-radiated emitted
by the atmosphere
a bit L:negative feedbacks
upward into the atmosphere
back to the surface
from the surface Energy