Reply to the comment of J. Gumbel and H. Rodhe on 'Thermal pollution causes global warming', by B. Nordell [Global Planet. Change 38 (2003), 305-312]

摘要

To understand complex problems like the energy balance of Earth, we should not look at the details without having a more large-scale understanding of the problem. My approach (Nordell, 2003) is therefore axiomatic. Over longer time scales (years), the Earth is a net heat source in space to which it emits its heat. Consequently, the periodic heating and cooling that occur during much shorter time scales are of no interest for this long-term energy balance. These periodic energy flows are zero sum events that add no heat to the planet, which also answers most of the comments made by Gumbel and Rodhe (G&R). One example, which G&R say that the author "does not seem to appreciate, is that the radiative fluxes at the surface, at any given location and time, do not necessarily balance out". The author understands this, but in my much longer time scale, they do balance out.