Energibudgeten

Energibudgeten (the energy budget) is a concept in climate science describing the balance between energy entering the Earth system from the Sun and energy leaving to space. At the top of the atmosphere, the global budget is set by absorbed solar radiation and outgoing longwave radiation, with a portion of sunlight reflected back by the planet’s albedo. The average solar input is about 340 watts per square meter when spread over the globe, and roughly 30 percent is reflected, leaving about 239 W/m² absorbed. In a stable climate, this absorbed energy is balanced by the outgoing radiation.

Key components of the energibudgeten include the albedo, the greenhouse effect, atmospheric and surface processes, and internal climate variability. The majority of excess energy is stored in the oceans, which buffer fluctuations and drive longer-term change. Feedbacks from water vapor, clouds, sea ice, and surface warming can amplify or dampen the budget’s evolution.

Measurement and quantification rely on satellites and in situ observations. Instruments such as those on CERES monitor net radiative fluxes at the top of the atmosphere, while ocean heat content records track how much heat the oceans store. The radiative forcing concept is used to quantify the impact of greenhouse gases and other drivers on the energy budget, enabling comparisons across different forcings and scenarios.

Relevance of the energibudgeten lies in its central role for understanding climate change. Human activities increase the atmospheric greenhouse effect, creating a positive energy imbalance that leads to warming, with the oceans absorbing most of the excess heat. While the global budget is fundamental, the framework also applies to regional scales and, in broader terms, to energy planning at household or organizational levels.