Guides ยท Science
Basic Climate System Basics
Understand what drives climate
This guide builds climate system intuition: how solar energy enters and leaves, how greenhouse gases trap heat, how oceans store and move energy, and how feedbacks amplify or dampen changes.
- climate system
- greenhouse effect
- energy balance
- oceans
- feedbacks
Energy in vs out
Climate is shaped by incoming solar energy and outgoing infrared radiation; imbalance changes temperature.
Greenhouse effect
Greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit infrared radiation, raising surface temperatures.
Oceans and circulation
Oceans store heat and move it via currents, influencing regional climate and variability.
Feedbacks
Ice-albedo and water vapor can amplify warming; clouds can amplify or dampen depending on type and altitude.