Earth's energy imbalance If the incoming energy flux is not equal to the outgoing energy flux, net heat is added to or lost by the planet (if the incoming flux is larger or smaller than the outgoing respectively). A study accepted for publication in Geophysical Research Letters (June 2021) reported that satellite and in situ observations independently show an approximate doubling of Earth's Energy Imbalance from mid-2005 to mid-2019  . Indirect measurement An imbalance in the Earth radiation budget requires components of the climate system to change temperature over time. The ocean is an effective absorber of solar energy and has a far greater heat capacity than the atmosphere. The measurement of the change in temperature is very difficult since it corresponds to millidegrees over the short time frame of the ARGO measurements. Ocean heat content change (OHC) over time is same measurement as the temperature anomaly over time.%DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% Earth's energy balance may be measured by Argo floats by measuring the temperature anomaly or equivalently, the accumulation of ocean heat content. Ocean heat content was unchanged in the northern extra-tropical ocean and in the tropical ocean during the 2005-2014 time frame. Ocean heat content increased only in the extra-tropical southern ocean. There is no known reason that the extra-tropical southern ocean will experience ocean heat content increases while ocean heat content remains constant over the bulk of the measured ocean. The measurement urgently requires confirmation by both longer term measurements and by an alternate method. It is useful to note that the ocean heat content anomaly of the Argo float measurement is approximately 3x1022 joules, or approximately three days of excess solar insolation over the nine-year period, or less than a ~0.1\% variation of solar insolation over nine years. Direct measurement upright=1.3|Animation of the orbits of NASA's 2011 fleet of Earth remote sensing observatories. Several satellites directly measure the energy absorbed and radiated by Earth, and thus by inference the energy imbalance. The NASA Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) project involves three such satellites: the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS), launched October 1984; NOAA-9, launched December 1984; and NOAA-10, launched September 1986. NASA's Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instruments are part of the NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) since 1998. CERES is designed to measure both solar-reflected (short wavelength) and Earth-emitted (long wavelength) radiation. Researchers  have used data from CERES, AIRS, CloudSat, LandSat, and other EOS instruments to look for trends of anthropogenic radiative forcing embedded within the observed energy imbalances. They presented a model showing a rise of +0.53 W m−2 (+/-0.11 W m−2) from years 2003 to 2018; with about 20\% from a decrease in reflected short-wave radiation, and the remainder from a decrease in outgoing long-wavelength radiation      .
Earth's energy imbalance If Earth's incoming energy flux is larger or smaller than the outgoing energy flux, then the planet will gain or lose net heat in accordance with the law of energy conservation. When the imbalance in global energy fluxes shifts by a sufficiently large amount, it is directly measurable by orbiting satellite-based radiometric instruments. Imbalances which fail to reverse over time will also drive long-term temperature changes in the atmospheric, oceanic, terrestrial, and ice components of the climate system. Temperature changes may thus provide indirect measures of the imbalance. From mid-2005 to mid-2019 , satellite and ocean temperature observations have each independently shown an approximate doubling of Earth's energy imbalance (EEI) . %DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% Direct measurement upright=1.3|Animation of the orbits of NASA's 2011 fleet of Earth remote sensing observatories. Several satellites directly measure the energy absorbed and radiated by Earth, and thus by inference the energy imbalance. The NASA Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) project involves three such satellites: the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS), launched October 1984; NOAA-9, launched December 1984; and NOAA-10, launched September 1986. NASA's Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instruments are part of the NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) since 1998. CERES is designed to measure both solar-reflected (short wavelength) and Earth-emitted (long wavelength) radiation. Analysis of CERES data by its principal investigators showed a linearly increasing trend in EEI, from +0.42 W m−2 (+/-0.48 W m−2) in 2005 to +1.12 W m−2 (+/-0.48 W m−2) in 2019. Other researchers have used data from CERES, AIRS, CloudSat, and other EOS instruments to look for trends of radiative forcing embedded within the EEI data. Their data analysis showed a rise of +0.53 W m−2 (+/-0.11 W m−2) from years 2003 to 2018. 80\% of the increase was associated with the rising concentration of greenhouse gases which reduced the outgoing long-wavelenghth radiation. It is noteworthy that radiometric calibration uncertainties limit the capability of the current generation of satellite-based instruments. As a result, relative changes in EEI are quantifiable with an accuracy which is not also achievable for any single measurement of the absolute imbalance. Indirect measurements Global surface temperature (GST) is calculated by averaging atmospheric temperatures measured over the surface of the sea along with temperatures measured over land. Reliable data extending to at least 1880 shows that GST has undergone a steady increase of about 0.18°C per decade since about year 1970. Ocean waters are especially effective absorbents of solar energy and have far greater total heat capacity than the atmosphere. Research vessels and stations have sampled sea temperatures around the globe since before 1960. Additionally after year 2000, an expanding network of over 3000 Argo robotic floats has measured the temperature anomaly, or equivalently the change in ocean heat content (OHC). Since at least 1990, OHC has increased at a steady or accelerating rate. Changes in OHC provide the most reliable indirect measure of EEI since the oceans take up 90\% of the excess heat. The extent of floating and grounded ice is measured by satellites, while the change in mass is then inferred from measured changes in sea level in concert with computational models that account for thermal expansion and other factors. Observations since 1994 show that ice has retreated from every part of Earth at an accelerating rate .
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If the
If Earth's
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not equal to
larger or smaller than
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net heat is added to or lost by the planet (if the incoming flux is larger or smaller than the outgoing respectively). A study accepted for publication in Geophysical Research Letters (June 2021) reported that satellite and in situ observations independently show an approximate doubling of Earth's Energy Imbalance
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from mid-2005 to
then the planet will gain or lose net heat in accordance with the law of energy conservation. When the imbalance in global energy fluxes shifts by a sufficiently large amount, it is directly measurable by orbiting satellite-based radiometric instruments. Imbalances which fail to reverse over time will also drive long-term temperature changes in the atmospheric, oceanic, terrestrial, and ice components of the climate system. Temperature changes may thus provide indirect measures of the imbalance. From mid-2005 to
A
, satellite and ocean temperature observations have each independently shown an approximate doubling of Earth's energy imbalance (EEI)
D
Indirect measurement
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An imbalance in the Earth radiation budget requires components of the climate system to change temperature over time. The ocean is an effective absorber of solar energy and has a far greater heat capacity than the atmosphere. The measurement of the change in temperature is very difficult since it corresponds to millidegrees over the short time frame of the ARGO measurements. Ocean heat content change (OHC) over time is same measurement as the temperature anomaly over time.
D
Earth's energy balance may be measured by Argo floats by measuring the temperature anomaly or equivalently, the accumulation of ocean heat content. Ocean heat content was unchanged in the northern extra-tropical ocean and in the tropical ocean during the 2005-2014 time frame. Ocean heat content increased only in the extra-tropical southern ocean. There is no known reason that the extra-tropical southern ocean will experience ocean heat content increases while ocean heat content remains constant over the bulk of the measured ocean. The measurement urgently requires confirmation by both longer term measurements and by an alternate method. It is useful to note that the ocean heat content anomaly of the Argo float measurement is approximately 3x1022 joules, or approximately three days of excess solar insolation over the nine-year period, or less than a ~0.1\% variation of solar insolation over nine years.
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Researchers
Analysis of CERES data by its principal investigators showed a linearly increasing trend in EEI, from +0.42 W m−2 (+/-0.48 W m−2) in 2005 to +1.12 W m−2 (+/-0.48 W m−2) in 2019.
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Other researchers
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LandSat,
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anthropogenic
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observed energy imbalances. They presented a model showing a
EEI data. Their data analysis showed a
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2018; with about 20\% from a decrease in reflected short-wave radiation, and the remainder from a decrease in outgoing long-wavelength radiation
2018. 80\% of the increase was associated with the rising concentration of greenhouse gases which reduced the outgoing long-wavelenghth radiation.
A
It is noteworthy that radiometric calibration uncertainties limit the capability of the current generation of satellite-based instruments. As a result, relative changes in EEI are quantifiable with an accuracy which is not also achievable for any single measurement of the absolute imbalance.
A
Indirect measurements
A
Global surface temperature (GST) is calculated by averaging atmospheric temperatures measured over the surface of the sea along with temperatures measured over land. Reliable data extending to at least 1880 shows that GST has undergone a steady increase of about 0.18°C per decade since about year 1970.
A
Ocean waters are especially effective absorbents of solar energy and have far greater total heat capacity than the atmosphere. Research vessels and stations have sampled sea temperatures around the globe since before 1960. Additionally after year 2000, an expanding network of over 3000 Argo robotic floats has measured the temperature anomaly, or equivalently the change in ocean heat content (OHC). Since at least 1990, OHC has increased at a steady or accelerating rate. Changes in OHC provide the most reliable indirect measure of EEI since the oceans take up 90\% of the excess heat.
A
The extent of floating and grounded ice is measured by satellites, while the change in mass is then inferred from measured changes in sea level in concert with computational models that account for thermal expansion and other factors. Observations since 1994 show that ice has retreated from every part of Earth at an accelerating rate