Feedback Loops
Crowther Lab,
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich (ETH Zurich)
Burning fossil fuels quickly moves carbon that was once stored underground into the atmosphere, where it traps heat and sets new climate cycles into motion.
For instance, as permafrost thaws, microorganism become active, causing them to release carbon from the soil into the atmosphere, which traps more heat and accelerates warming. This is an example of a positive feedback loop, a vicious cycle that increases warming. But not all feedback loops are damaging.
A negative feedback loop is a virtuous cycle that can cool the climate. For example, warmer temperatures can fuel plant growth that absorbs some of the excess carbon, helping to restabilize the climate. Yet when humans damage ecosystems, we risk turning a virtuous cycle into a vicious one.
Degraded, dry forests capture less carbon, which contributes to warming, which makes forests even drier. By cutting back on fossil fuels and protecting ecosystems, we can work with beneficial feedback loops that reduce atmospheric carbon, limiting how much heat the atmosphere traps and slowing climate change.
For instance, as permafrost thaws, microorganism become active, causing them to release carbon from the soil into the atmosphere, which traps more heat and accelerates warming. This is an example of a positive feedback loop, a vicious cycle that increases warming. But not all feedback loops are damaging.
A negative feedback loop is a virtuous cycle that can cool the climate. For example, warmer temperatures can fuel plant growth that absorbs some of the excess carbon, helping to restabilize the climate. Yet when humans damage ecosystems, we risk turning a virtuous cycle into a vicious one.
Degraded, dry forests capture less carbon, which contributes to warming, which makes forests even drier. By cutting back on fossil fuels and protecting ecosystems, we can work with beneficial feedback loops that reduce atmospheric carbon, limiting how much heat the atmosphere traps and slowing climate change.
(1) Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops
(2) How Feedback Loops Are Making the Climate Crisis Worse
(3) Beyond COP26, Feedback Loops and Tipping Points
(4) NASA, The Study of Earth as an Integrated System
(2) How Feedback Loops Are Making the Climate Crisis Worse
(3) Beyond COP26, Feedback Loops and Tipping Points
(4) NASA, The Study of Earth as an Integrated System
Climate Words
287 Park Avenue South, Suite 700
New York, NY 10010
United States
hello@climatewords.org
+1 (332) 900-7880
Climate Words is fiscally sponsored by Ecologistics, Inc. (EIN 27-2116150), a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.
© 2023, Climate Words, Inc. All rights reserved.
287 Park Avenue South, Suite 700
New York, NY 10010
United States
hello@climatewords.org
+1 (332) 900-7880
Climate Words is fiscally sponsored by Ecologistics, Inc. (EIN 27-2116150), a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.
© 2023, Climate Words, Inc. All rights reserved.
