Radiative forcing (climate forcing) refers to
A) the power of electromagnetic radiation per unit area.
B) the amount by which some perturbation causes Earth's energy balance to deviate from zero.
C) a measurement of solar radiation energy received on a give surface area.
D) the contribution of each greenhouse gas to global warming.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Radiative forcing (climate forcing) is the amount by which some perturbation causes Earth's energy balance to deviate from zero. This perturbation can be caused by changes in solar radiation or changes in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It is a measure of the potential for a particular agent (e.g. greenhouse gas) to affect the Earth's climate.

Radiative Forcing (Climate Forcing) Refers to