The rate at which Earth is absorbing energy is alarming climate scientists

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day, reviewed by our editorial team. Read the full piece on The Economist or below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Climate scientists are increasingly concerned about the rate at which Earth is accumulating energy, with new observations showing that the planet is absorbing more heat than it is releasing
• The imbalance is intensifying concerns about accelerating climate impacts

🔭 The context: Earth’s energy balance is determined by the difference between incoming solar energy and outgoing heat escaping back into space
• Rising greenhouse gas concentrations have trapped more heat in the atmosphere and oceans, contributing to record temperatures, ocean warming and changes in climate systems

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: A growing energy imbalance is a fundamental indicator of climate change because it reflects the underlying driver of global warming
• Continued heat accumulation affects sea-level rise, extreme weather patterns, ecosystems and the stability of natural systems

⏭️ What’s next: Scientists are poised to continue monitoring Earth’s energy balance through satellites, ocean measurements and climate models
• The goal is to understand whether recent changes represent a temporary acceleration or a longer-term shift in the climate system

📈 One stat: Earth is currently absorbing around 0.9 watts of excess energy per square metre on average, meaning the planet is taking in more heat from the Sun than it releases back into space. (NASA Earth Observatory, Earth’s Energy Imbalance)

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