On Apr 25, 8:34 pm, oku <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I currently have a discusion with a skeptic. I am trying to get the
> point across that the radiation balance of the earth can only be
> influenced by the three factors 1) solar radiation, 2) albedo and 3)
> absorption of long wave radiation by the atmosphere (see
> here:http://ipcc-wg1.ucar.edu/wg1/FAQ/wg1_faq-1.1.html). If we have high
> average temperature during El Nino, and low during La Nina periods,
> then this *seems* to contradict that. I understand that in El Nino,
> warm ocean water releases heat to the atmosphere, and during a La Nina
> the cold ocean water soaks up that heat. Since we measure surface
> temperatures and not deep ocean temperatures, there is no
> contradiction. Is that correct? Would it also be correct to conclude
> that long term changes in ocean currents therefore cannot change the
> average temperature of the earth (disregarding feedbacks), but just
> local climates, because the amount of energy that can be released/
> soaked up by the oceans is finite? (The guy I have the discussion with
> seems to be a fan of William Gray)
>
> Thanks,
> Oliver
El Nino involves a couple of other things. Clouds emit radiation to
the Earth and to space. So during an El Nino when there is cloud over
much of the Pacific the clouds cause warming. But I think the main
warming is from the release of heat stored in the ocean due to warm
water piled up against the East Indies by the Trade Winds. The IPCC
have not included exchange of heat with the ocean as a factor,
presumably because the exchange is always temporary.
Cheers, Alastair.
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