Radiative Forcing & Climate Sensitivity

This lecture covers the concepts of radiative forcing, climate sensitivity, and feedback mechanisms in the context of climate change. It discusses how clouds, aerosols, and greenhouse gases impact the Earth's energy balance and temperature. The instructor explains the difference between radiative forcing and effective radiative forcing, emphasizing the role of various components like CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide. The lecture also delves into the evolution of climate models and the methods used to derive climate sensitivity, including equilibrium climate sensitivity and transient climate response. The importance of paleoclimate records and emergent constraints in constraining climate sensitivity is highlighted.