Abstract:

Much of our understanding of the greenhouse effect, including its sensitivity to temperature and level of forcing, can be quantified with the help of a few basic assumptions, and an ability to think spectrally.  In this talk, I will show how this allows us to make a priori estimates of climate sensitivity, why much of the forcing and feedback frameworks that have been developed over the past years actually hinder understanding, and why clouds actually make the planet less sensitive to increases in greenhouse gases.