terrestrial radiation balance
1Background radiation — This article is about ionizing radiation. For microwave background radiation from space, see Cosmic background radiation and cosmic background. Thermal radiation emitted by Earth is not considered in this category because it is not ionizing.… …
2electromagnetic radiation — Physics. radiation consisting of electromagnetic waves, including radio waves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x rays, and gamma rays. [1950 55] * * * Energy propagated through free space or through a material medium in the form of… …
3climate — /kluy mit/, n. 1. the composite or generally prevailing weather conditions of a region, as temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds, throughout the year, averaged over a series of years. 2. a region or… …
4global warming — an increase in the earth s average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect. [1975 80] * * * Potential increase in global average surface temperatures resulting from… …
5Antarctica — /ant ahrk ti keuh, ahr ti /, n. the continent surrounding the South Pole: almost entirely covered by an ice sheet. ab. 5,000,000 sq. mi. (12,950,000 sq. km). Also called Antarctic Continent. * * * Antarctica Introduction Antarctica Background:… …
6hydrosphere — /huy dreuh sfear /, n. the water on or surrounding the surface of the globe, including the water of the oceans and the water in the atmosphere. [1885 90; HYDRO 1 + SPHERE] * * * Discontinuous layer of water at or near the Earth s surface. It… …
7Climate change feedback — See also: Avoiding dangerous climate change, Runaway climate change, and Abrupt climate change Climate change feedback is important in the understanding of global warming because feedback processes may amplify or diminish the effect of each… …
8Global warming controversy — refers to a variety of disputes, significantly more pronounced in the popular media than in the scientific literature,[1][2] regarding the nature, causes, and consequences of global warming. The disputed issues involve the causes of increased… …
9Climate change — For current and future climatological effects of human influences, see global warming. For the study of past climate change, see paleoclimatology. For temperatures on the longest time scales, see geologic temperature record …
10Global climate model — AGCM redirects here. For Italian competition regulator, see Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato. Climate models are systems of differential equations based on the basic laws of physics, fluid motion, and chemistry. To “run” a model,… …
