Earth Sun ID: 5173

Earth's Radiation Balance, 2000-2023

Visualizations by Trent L. Schindler Released on October 10, 2023

A plotted view of planetary heat uptake since the beginning of the CERES data record showing an oscillating, monthly mean (yellow) and twelve-month running average (red line). These data show how much energy is added (absorbed) by Earth during the CERES period.

The Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) instrument is a key component of NASA’s Earth Observing System, with six active CERES instruments on satellites orbiting Earth and taking data. Much like a pulse or heartbeat, CERES monitors reflected solar and emitted thermal infrared radiation, which together with solar irradiance measurements is one of Earth’s ‘vital signs.’

For Earth’s temperature to be stable over long periods of time, absorbed solar and emitted thermal radiation must be equal. Increases in greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and methane, trap emitted thermal radiation from the surface and reduce how much is lost to space, resulting in a net surplus of energy into the Earth system. Most of the extra energy ends up being stored as heat in the ocean and the remainder warms the atmosphere and land, and melts snow and ice. As a consequence, global mean surface temperature increases and sea levels rise. Better understanding Earth’s energy balance enables us to be informed and adapt to a changing world.

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Visualization Credits

Trent L. Schindler (USRA): Lead Visualizer
Jonathan Gleason (NASA/LARC): Lead Producer
Denise Lineberry (NASA/LARC): Lead Writer
Norman Loeb (NASA/LRC): Lead Scientist
Jefferson Beck (USRA): Producer
Ellen T. Gray (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Producer

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

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Data Used:

Terra/CERES

The CERES instrument aboard many Earth-orbiting satellites records the flow of reflected Solar radiation and reprocessed longwave radiation in the Earth's radiation budget.

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Aqua/CERES/Incoming Solar Radiation

Data from SORCE for the flux magnitude at the Earth's orbit, coupled with solar incidence angles based on CERES measurement locations and times

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Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.

Keywords:
SVS >> Climate
SVS >> Radiation
SVS >> Radiation budget
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere >> Atmospheric Radiation >> Radiative Flux
SVS >> Climate Change
NASA Science >> Earth
NASA Science >> Sun
SVS >> Earth Information Center

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0