Observational Evidence of Increasing Global Radiative Forcing

Changes in atmospheric composition, such as increasing greenhouse gases, cause an initial radiative imbalance to the climate system, quantified instantaneous forcing. This fundamental metric has not been directly observed globally and previous estimates have come from models. In part, this is because current space-based instruments cannot distinguish forcing climate’s response. We apply kernels satellite observations disentangle these components find all-sky increased 0.53 ± 0.11 W/m2 2003 2018, accounting for positive trends total planetary imbalance. increase due a combination of rising concentrations well-mixed gases recent reductions aerosol emissions. These results highlight distinct fingerprints anthropogenic activity Earth’s changing energy budget, which we can detect within 4 years.