Planet Earth emits exactly the same amount of energy back to outer space that it receives from the Sun. How can the surface of the Earth warm up without upsetting this energy balance?
The Earth’s climate is driven by a continuous flow of energy received from the sun, with the Earth emitting the same amount of energy as it receives from the sun (termed the ‘energy balance’). The Earth absorbs and reflects this energy through incoming solar radiation, and then emits thermal radiation back into space. Greenhouse gases block part of the infrared radiation from escaping from the surface which keeps the Earth approximately 30% warmer allowing the Earth to sustain life. (Source: Inventory of US Greenhouse Emissions and Sinks, 1990-2000) Changes in Greenhouse gases affect all areas of the climate system including the atmosphere, land and the oceans. As greenhouse gases increase in the atmosphere, the Earth’s climate needs to adjust to keep the global “energy budget” in balance i.e. emitting the same amount of energy it receives from the sun back into outer space. The increase in Greenhouse gases we are experiencing is having a major impact on the energy balance between the
