Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2012) 127: 52
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2012-12052-8

Regular Article

Climate physics, feedbacks, and reductionism (and when does reductionism go too far?)

Program in Atmospheres, Oceans and Climate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

^* e-mail: rlindzen@MIT.EDU

Received: 7 March 2012
Accepted: 2 April 2012
Published online: 22 May 2012

Abstract

We review the basic physics of the greenhouse effect, the concept of climate sensitivity, a variety of ways of evaluating climate sensitivity and the limitations of the concept of climate sensitivity.