Long-term Paleoclimate Record of CO2 and Temperature

Updated 3 August, 2000

US National Assessment of
the Potential Consequences
of Climate Variability and Change
Long-term Paleoclimate Record
of CO2 and Temperature

Figure 1: Diagram of the flow of energy from the space into the atmosphere and down to the surface, and then up into the atmosphere and back to space. Balance is achieved at the top of the atmosphere, in the atmosphere, and at the surface, indicating a stable situation. The greenhouse effect refers to the process by which over 80% of the infrared radiation emitted upwards (390 Watts/m2) is balanced by back radiation to the surface (324 Watts/m2). An enhancement of this effect would warm the surface. (Diagram is from Kiehl and Trenberth, 1997).

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US National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change Long-term Paleoclimate Record of CO2 and Temperature

US National Assessment of
the Potential Consequences
of Climate Variability and Change
Long-term Paleoclimate Record
of CO2 and Temperature