EEI: Earth's Energy Imbalance is Human-Induced and Less Than 1% Natural, Study Says

Earth's climate heavily relies on the planet's contained supply. This supply is a collection of energies harnessed from the sun's radiation and Earth's excess thermal infrared energy that is emitted out of the planet and into space. However, this mutual energy flow could result in an imbalance through human activities and may possibly cause a devastating, uncontrollable change in our climate.

Anthropogenic Impact on Earth's Energy Equilibrium

The greenhouse gases currently present in our atmosphere could disrupt the balance of energy flow. The energy transmission between the sun's radiative energy and Earth's thermal emission is blocked and trapped by these gases. Instead of being transported to their supposed redirection, the radiation accumulates and becomes a dangerous contribution to global warming.

Carbon dioxide emission is among the causes of climate change, and this gas had been determined to be the most contributive gas that causes global warming. Human-induced CO2 emissions in the atmosphere had been a topic of debate for ages, but some groups are still on the other side of the facts, believing that natural causes build up climate change.

Princeton University experts have conducted a study to bring clarity with regard to the carbon emission denial. Based on their findings, the occurrence of the change in our climate is unnatural, with less than 1% probability of the climate drastically changing on its own terms. The research was published in the journal Nature Communications, titled "Anthropogenic Forcing and Response Yield Observed Positive Trend in Earth's Energy Imbalance."

How Human-Induced Greenhouse Gas Traps Sun Radiation and Increases Global Warming

Human-induced climate change was proven with the help of data gathered from satellite imaging conducted throughout 2001 up to 2020. The examination in the span of almost two decades shows an evident disruption in the equilibrium of the planet's energy.

Princeton University's atmospheric expert and author of the study Shiv Priyam Raghuraman said that the surplus energy trapped in the planet is the main cause of the imbalance, and the surplus that should have been long gone creates a significant impact.

Raghuraman said that the study is a testament that Earth's natural activities, including the oscillations of energy, cannot inflict the planet at an exceedingly large rate of energy imbalance. The effects can be observed in the changes of cloud formations and sea-ice depletion due to lesser aerosols that reflect the light delivered by the sun.

The imbalance in Earth's energy also affects living organisms along with environmental compositions. In a separate study published in the journal Geophysical Letter, titled "Satellite and Ocean Data Reveal Marked Increase in Earth's Heating Rate," the marine life in our planet's oceans is heavily affected by the increasing temperature stored underwater.

Earth's ocean naturally covers heat, but today, almost 90% of the excessively high temperature is being redirected to the water bodies. The overheating of oceans inflicts marine wildlife and increases the vapor level and the overall climate of the planet.

Earth's energy imbalance, if it continues to extend, will increase the negative impacts into unimaginable outcomes. According to a report by NBC News, NASA Langley Research Center expert and author of the Geophysical Letter study, Norman Loeb said that everything we see on the current news, from heavy droughts to unending forest fires, will get worse if the temperature rises due to the imbalance in our planet's energy.

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