[Phys-l] New information on the global warming front
http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ngeo1375.html
Observed changes in top-of-the-atmosphere radiation and upper-ocean heating
consistent within uncertainty
Norman G. Loeb,
John M. Lyman,
Gregory C. Johnson,
Richard P. Allan,
David R. Doelling,
Takmeng Wong,
Brian J. Soden
& Graeme L. Stephens
Nature Geoscience(2012)doi:10.1038/ngeo1375
Global climate change results from a small yet persistent imbalance between the
amount of sunlight absorbed by Earth and the thermal radiation emitted back to
space1. An apparent inconsistency has been diagnosed between interannual
variations in the net radiation imbalance inferred from satellite measurements
and upper-ocean heating rate from in situ measurements, and this inconsistency
has been interpreted as ‘missing energy’ in the system2. Here we present a
revised analysis of net radiation at the top of the atmosphere from satellite
data, and we estimate ocean heat content, based on three independent sources.
We find that the difference between the heat balance at the top of the
atmosphere and upper-ocean heat content change is not statistically significant
when accounting for observational uncertainties in ocean measurements3, given
transitions in instrumentation and sampling. Furthermore, variability in
Earth’s energy imbalance relating to El Niño-Southern Oscillation is found to
be consistent within observational uncertainties among the satellite
measurements, a reanalysis model simulation and one of the ocean heat content
records. We combine satellite data with ocean measurements to depths of 1,800
m, and show that between January 2001 and December 2010, Earth has been
steadily accumulating energy at a rate of 0.50±0.43 Wm−2 (uncertainties at the
90% confidence level). We conclude that energy storage is continuing to
increase in the sub-surface ocean.
---------------------
I think some of the deniers have pointed to inconsistencies in locating where
the energy was going. Now this has been better resolved. There are popular
articles on MSNBC and many other sites, but nothing on Fox or NYTIMES.
One of the main arguments put forwared by deniers is the increase in winter sea
ice around Antarctica, but that is a seasonal pattern involving a relatively
small thin mass of ice. Meanwhile satellite measurements show Antarctica is
losing ice overall, the same as Greenland, the Arctic, and virtually all
glaciers.
John M. Clement
Houston, TX
_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l