Earth system sensitivity (Q518)

Subject, term, tag: Earth system sensitivity

Language	Label	Description	Also known as
English	Earth system sensitivity	Subject, term, tag: Earth system sensitivity

Statements

Instance of

Category

source version

IPCC Glossary v1.5

1 reference

Source

https://apps.ipcc.ch/glossary/

date accessed

27 May 2026

Part of

Working Group I: Climate Change 2021 – The Physical Science Basis

0 references

Definition

The equilibrium surface temperature response of the coupled atmosphere – ocean – cryosphere –vegetation– carbon cycle system to a doubling of the atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2) concentration is referred to as Earth system sensitivity. Because it allows ice sheets to adjust to the external perturbation, it may differ substantially from the equilibrium climate sensitivity derived from coupled atmosphere–ocean models. (English)