Feedbacks in Vertical-Column Energy Balance Models

Abstract

Order-of-magnitude estimates are made for the feedbacks between the global mean surface temperature and the mean tropospheric lapse rate, the mean surface relative humidity and the mean atmospheric relative humidity profile. It is found that with the possible exception of the surface temperature-surface relative humidity feedback the magnitudes of these feedback are not sufficient to significantly alter the sensitivity of the global mean surface temperature to changes in the solar constant as calculated using a vertical-column energy balance model of the earth's atmosphere.