Manabe’s Radiative–Convective Equilibrium

Abstract Syukoro (Suki) Manabe’s Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded largely for his early work on one-dimensional models of “radiative–convective equilibrium” (RCE), which produced the first credible estimates Earth’s climate sensitivity. This article reviews that and tries to identify those aspects make it so distinctive. We argue model RCE contained three crucial ingredients. These are (i) a tight convective coupling surface troposphere, (ii) an assumption fixed relative humidity rather than absolute humidity, (iii) sufficiently realistic representation greenhouse gas radiative transfer. Previous studies had separately identified these key ingredients, but none properly combined them. then discuss each ingredients turn, highlighting how subsequent research intervening decades has only cemented their importance understanding global change. close by reflecting elegance approach its lasting value.