What Causes Energy Imbalances?
Understanding the factors that disrupt Earth's energy balance and drive climate change
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Current Energy Imbalance
🌡️ Earth is gaining heat (warming)
🎛️ Adjust Climate Forcings
50% above pre-industrial
Current: ~50% increase (421 ppm CO₂)
0% decrease
Arctic sea ice has declined by ~13% per decade
💡 Try this: Set greenhouse gases to 100% and albedo change to 20% to see the combined effect. This simulates the current human impact on Earth's energy balance.
Major Causes of Energy Imbalance
🏭
Greenhouse Gas Increases
CO₂, methane, and other gases trap more outgoing radiation
Impact: +1.5 W/m²
🧊
Albedo Changes
Melting ice and land use changes reduce surface reflectivity
Impact: 0.0 W/m²
☀️
Solar Activity Variations
Changes in solar irradiance affect incoming energy
Impact: ±1 W/m²
🌋
Volcanic Activity
Volcanic eruptions inject particles that reflect sunlight
Impact: -1 to -2 W/m² (temporary)
🏭 Human vs Natural Causes
Natural Factors
- • Solar irradiance variations: ±0.1%
- • Volcanic eruptions: temporary cooling
- • Orbital changes: long-term cycles
- • Ocean circulation patterns
Combined effect: ~0.1 W/m² (minimal)
Human Factors
- • CO₂ emissions: +2.1 W/m²
- • Other greenhouse gases: +0.5 W/m²
- • Land use changes: +0.3 W/m²
- • Aerosol pollution: -1.1 W/m²
Net effect: +1.8 W/m² (dominant driver)
Key Insight: Human activities now dominate Earth's energy balance, with greenhouse gas increases being the primary driver of current warming.