NASA scientists estimate that the Earth is retaining twice the amount of heat compared to 2005.
The Guardian reports that NASA and NOAA believe the level of “energy balance” has doubled from 2005 to 2019, which is “alarming”.
Sunrise in California (USA) during the heatwave of 2020. (Photo: Reuters).
“Energy balance” refers to the difference between the solar radiation absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere and surface compared to the amount of infrared radiation sent back into space. NASA states: “A positive energy balance means the Earth is absorbing more energy, leading to warming.”
The greenhouse effect causes the Earth to retain heat in the atmosphere, preventing infrared radiation from escaping back into space. This situation leads to various changes such as melting ice, increased evaporation, and reduced cloud cover.
Scientists based their conclusions on data from satellite sensors and ocean buoys.
Mr. Norman Loeb, a researcher at NASA, evaluated that this study shows a long-term relationship with climate change but cannot predict what will happen in the coming decades regarding the Earth’s energy budget balance.
In 2020, a group of scientists from the Climate Action Tracker organization predicted a global temperature increase of 2.9 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. This figure exceeds the target of the Paris Agreement on climate change, which aims for a global temperature increase of 1.5-2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.
However, Climate Action Tracker also emphasized that if 127 countries meet their commitments for carbon neutrality, the temperature increase would be 2.1 degrees Celsius. More than 100 countries have pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by the middle of this century.
