Definition

A measure of the influence that a climatic factor (e.g. ice albedo, tropospheric aerosols) has in altering the balance of incoming and outgoing energy in the Earth-atmosphere system. Also used as an index of the influence a factor has as a potential climate change mechanism.

As defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC], radiative forcing is a measure of how the energy balance of the Earth-atmosphere system is influenced when factors that affect climate are altered. Radiative forcing is a measure of how the energy balance of the Earth-atmosphere system is influenced when factors that affect climate are altered. The word "radiative" signifies that the factors affect the balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing infrared radiation within the Earth’s atmosphere. Positive forcing tends to warm the surface while negative forcing tends to cool it. Forcing values are expressed in watts per square meter (W ●m^-2).

Further Reading

• Forster, P., V. Ramaswamy, P. Artaxo, T. Berntsen, R. Betts, D.W. Fahey, J. Haywood, J. Lean, D.C. Lowe, G. Myhre, J. Nganga, R. Prinn, . Raga, M. Schulz and R. Van Dorland, 2007: Changes in Atmospheric Constituents and in Radiative Forcing. In: Climate Change 2007:he Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate hange [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M.Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.