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A Toy Model of Climate Change
- A Toy Model of Climate Change is a mathematical representation that helps understand the basic concept of climate change without getting bogged down in the details.
- In the absence of the earth's atmosphere, the temperature is calculated by balancing the energy emitted by the sun with the energy from the earth radiating into space. The earth's temperature without an atmosphere is approximately -19°C.
- The analysis of the atmosphere around the earth's temperature requires keeping track of the power coming in and out of both, the earth and the atmosphere, as the earth has its temperature and the atmosphere has its temperature.
- The greenhouse gases absorb thermal radiation, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane. Carbon dioxide has a high concentration, and burning fossil fuels produces more carbon dioxide. Therefore, climate change discussions are primarily focused on carbon dioxide.
- The albedo reflects the sunlight, and snow and ice cover earth depend on albedo and sunlight absorbed by earth, creating a viscous cycle that affects temperature.
- Positive feedback leads to explosive change, and the earth's climate has multiple loops of feedback, making climate modeling even more complicated.
- The toy model serves as an excellent enhancement of understanding and helps develop an insight into the complicated phenomena of climate change.
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