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Climate feedback

An atmospheric, oceanic, terrestrial, or other process that is activated by direct climate change induced by changes in radiative forcing. Climate feedbacks may increase (positive feedback) or diminish (negative feedback) the magnitude of the direct climate change. See climate, climate change, radiative forcing.

Climate lag

The delay that occurs in climate change as a result of some factor that changes only very slowly. For example, the effects of releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere may not be known for some time because a large fraction is dissolved in the ocean and only released to the atmosphere many years later. See climate, climate change.

Climate model

A quantitative way of representing the interactions of the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and ice. Models can range from relatively simple to quite comprehensive. See General Circulation Model.

Climate modeling

The simulation of the climate using computer-based models. See climate model, General Circulation Model.

Climate sensitivity

The equilibrium response of the climate to a change in radiative forcing, for example, a doubling of the carbon dioxide concentration. See climate, radiative forcing.

Climate system (or Earth system)

The atmosphere, the oceans, the biosphere, the cryosphere, and the geosphere, together make up the climate system.

Climate Variability

(Also called climatic variability.) The temporal variations of the atmosphere – ocean system around a mean state. Typically, this term is used for timescales longer than those associated with synoptic weather events (i.e., months to millennia and longer). The term “natural climate variability” is further used to identify climate variations that are not attributable to or influenced by any activity related to humans.

Climatic year

A continuous 12-month period during which a complete annual cycle occurs, arbitrarily selected for the presentation of data relative to hydrologic or meteorologic phenomena. The climatic year is usually designated by the calendar year during which most of the 12 months occur. (See Water year.)

Closed Economy

An economy that neither exports nor imports.

Closed low

See Cutoff Low below.

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