A Determination of the Cloud Feedback from Climate Variations over the Past Decade
Estimates of Earth's climate sensitivity are uncertain, largely because of uncertainty in the
long-term cloud feedback. I estimated the magnitude of the cloud feedback in response to short-term
climate variations by analyzing the top-of-atmosphere radiation budget from March 2000 to February
2010. Over this period, the short-term cloud feedback had a magnitude of 0.54 T 0.74 (2s) watts
per square meter per kelvin, meaning that it is likely positive. A small negative feedback is possible,
but one large enough to cancel the climate’s positive feedbacks is not supported by these observations.
Both long- and short-wave components of short-term cloud feedback are also likely positive.
Calculations of short-term cloud feedback in climate models yield a similar feedback. I find no
correlation in the models between the short- and long-term cloud feedbacks.
Publication Date: 2010
Credits: SCIENCE VOL 330 10 DECEMBER 2010
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