Climate Sensitivity

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-005244",
  "term": "Climate Sensitivity",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. In Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, equilibrium climate sensitivity refers to the equilibrium change in global mean surface temperature following a doubling of the atmospheric (equivalent) CO₂ concentration. More generally, equilibrium climate sensitivity refers to the equilibrium change in surface air temperature following a unit change in radiative forcing (degrees Celsius, per watts per square meter, °C/Wm-2). One method of evaluating the equilibrium climate sensitivity requires very long simulations with Coupled General Circulation Models (Climate model). The effective climate sensitivity is a related measure that circumvents this requirement. It is evaluated from model output for evolving non-equilibrium conditions. It is a measure of the strengths of the feedbacks at a particular time and may vary with forcing history and climate state. See climate, radiative forcing.\n\n2. The equilibrium response of the climate to a change in radiative forcing; for example, a doubling of the carbon dioxide concentration. See radiative forcing.",
  "subject": "Climate change",
  "references": [
    "Glossary of Climate Change Terms",
    "Greenhouse Gas Emissions"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/climate-sensitivity/"
}