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Why Were 2023 and 2024 So Hot?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Scientists are sounding the alarm because this warming is shockingly bigbigger than what we would have expected given the long-term warming trend from fossil fuel-caused climate change. Albedo is the total reflection of incoming solar radiation by Earth. But why were 2023 and 2024 so warm? What is albedo?

2024 279
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Andean glaciers have shrunk more than ever before in the entire Holocene

Real Climate

When rock surfaces are exposed, isotopes such as carbon-14 and beryllium-10 form due to bombardment by cosmic radiation. If, however, the rock is covered by an ice sheet, it is shielded from this radiation, and these unstable isotopes gradually disappear through radioactive decay (with half-lives of 5,700 and 1.4

Radiation 178
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How Do ‘Future Climate Scenarios’ Shape Climate Science and Inform Policy? 

Union of Concerned Scientists

SSP4: A divided world A highly unequal world where some adopt clean technology while much of the population remains dependent on fossil fuels. SSP5: Taking the highway A scenario driven by economic growth and high fossil fuel use, leading to rapid warming.

Radiation 156
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What Is a Climate Model and How Does It Work?

Union of Concerned Scientists

In my blog on the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which is the conveyor belt of water moving in the Atlantic Ocean, I discussed how regions around the equator are warmer than the poles due to different amounts of incoming solar radiation, that is, energy from the sun. What do I mean by this?

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The CO2 problem in six easy steps (2022 Update)

Real Climate

The fact that there is a natural greenhouse effect (that the atmosphere restricts the passage of infra-red (IR) radiation from the Earth’s surface to space) is easily deducible from; i) the mean temperature of the surface (around 15ºC) and, ii) knowing that the planet is normally close to radiative equilibrium. in IPCC TAR).

Radiation 352
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The definitive CO2/CH4 comparison post

Real Climate

There is also a very small impact of the CH 4 oxidation to CO 2 itself for any fossil-fuel derived methane. (a) In 2020, CO 2 was at ~410 parts per million, while CH 4 was around 1870 parts per <it>billion</it> (or 1.87 ppm, a factor of more than 200 smaller). W/m 2 for CH 4. References. Etminan, G. Myhre, E.J.

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U.S. Climate Law: A Broad & Rapidly Growing Field

Legal Planet

Rules relating to renewable and fossil fuel development on public lands and offshore. Litigation against carbon emitters and fossil fuel producers G. State climate and energy policy A. Renewable portfolio standards. Cap-and-trade systems C. California authority to regulate new vehicles D. Biodiversity and ecosystems E.

Law 246