As shown below, the changes in the concentration of water vapor,(the difference between the total rate of average global evaporation compared to the total rate of average global precipitation, over the same time period), drive changes in water vapor surface heating, ΔWV, which in turn drive changes in the concentration of water vapor. This can, continue in an autonomous positive feedback loop.

Until that is understood, appropriate solutions found and implemented, this is an ever increasing potential threat to humankind. The good news is that this problem, including the reduction of past increases, at least theoretically, lends itself to solutions.

Between 1880 and 2019, the energy of Earth’s land surface increased by 0.7%, an average increase of 0.005% per year, which is greater than the increase in the surface energy of the seas. No appreciable fraction of the radiant energy heating the surface is stored in the land. Therefore, determining the average annual change in average global temperature from a change in average total heating is a straightforward exercise in thermodynamics. Deduct the percentage of total heating that drives evaporation and thermal convection and, given that the average surface radiation, Rad_U, cannot exceed the remaining net heating, NaH, for small changes in net heating, the change in the average surface temperature from temperature T_o is,

Δ T = Δ NaH / ( 4 σ T o 3 )   ˚C

Further, many individual models show year to year:

1) variances greater than 20% of the actual year to year temperature increase between 1880 and 2018;

These hindsight comparisons illustrate the failings of these models.

New Principles

Therefore, new Principles to first determine changes in the average concentration of water vapor and then the changes in heating and surface temperature these changes drive, are set out. (The derivation of all of these principles is set out in Appendix 1).

Therefore, wholly new Principles of climate physics for calculating changes in the concentration of water vapor and water vapor heating and resulting changes in average global temperature have been developed. (The derivation of all of these principles is set out in Appendix 1.)

The results of the application of these principles are set out and prove that:

That Equation (1) is correct can also be seen from Figure 5 showing the average global concentration of water vapor and the computed concentration of water vapor, TPW, calculated in accordance with Equation (1) for the years 1996-2007, set out in Table 1 and shown as green dots, along with their trendline (dashed red line).

· And after comments such as “…rising average temperature increases evaporation rates and atmospheric water vapor concentrations,” a wholly unproven and misconceived, common follow on is something to the effect that, since, “Water vapor cannot itself catalyze temperature increases in the short time (estimated at around 10 days) that a discrete water vapor influx would remain before precipitating out. A sustained increase in tropospheric water vapor requires a strong external forcing to provide the initial temperature increase [10].”

Then the resulting increase in temperature would be an annual increase of 1.25˚C

However, with the theoretical effects of CO₂ excluded, Equation (4) still overstates the temperature increase in violation of Kirchoff’s law and the first law of thermodynamics. 114 out of 139% or 82% are higher than actual, some as great as 0.1˚C. (This is likely due to the fact that the effects of changes in cloud cover are not taken into account in Equation (4)) Therefore, Equation (4) is also not advanced as correct.

Why is CO₂ Irrelevant?

· Finally note that, “The average frequency of emission for CO₂is 1.6 times lower than that of the other considered gases. Therefore, the energy efficiency of the resulting CO₂emission, proportional to ω, is almost five times lower than that of the other gases. “See [14] (p. 349, Figure 2.)

Figure 11 Correlation of Changes in Average Global Temperature with Changes in Concentration of Water Vapor [1] [2] [3] (TableS2 Appendix 2, Supplementary Materials)

This relationship is:

Δ T Avg = 0.4 Δ TPW − 0.05 ˚C (5)

with an R² of 0.9953.

This correlation is independent of the effects of changes in the concentration of CO₂.

The results of employing this relationsship to determine the average global temperature is shown in Figure 12.

While the theoretical heating by CO₂ is also removed in Equation (4), Equation (4), is based upon a theoretical computation of the effects of changes in the concentration of water vapor on surface heating, alone.

Equation (5) is based upon a comparison to the actual temperature record, which, of course, captures the effects of changes in cloud cover on average global temperature.

Given the correlation shown in Figure 11, the small effects on temperature change from changes in in cloud cover appear to also be a function of to changes in the concentration of water vapor.

The results from the application of Equation (5) have a correlation coefficient of 09976, exceeding the average global temperature 68% of the time, but never by more by more than 0.05˚C, which is itself well within the error band of average global temperature estimates for the period in which this occurred, 1904-1910 [15].

It is clear therefore, that Equation (5) captures the relationship between changes in the concentration of water vapor and the average global temperature—demonstrating the mechanism driving climate change and validating the physics set out herein.

Thus, Equation (5) is advanced as The Principle of Climate Physics accounting for climate change, which demonstrates that:

a. Changes in the concentration of water vapor, Δ T P W   not CO₂, drive climate change;

b. Equation (1) is a valid principle of climate physics;

c. Changes in the concentration of water vapor are sufficient, in and of themselves, to drive all of the changes in heating; and,

d. These changes in water vapor heating and concentration are sufficient to autonomously drive climate change independent of any other climate factors, in a positive feedback loop, as discussed below.

In 1977 was the year of the largest single year increase in the concentration of water vapor since 1880, 0.74 kg∙m⁻² or 4%, which was the start of a major and continuing increase. Before that, the concentration of water vapor increased at a rate of 0.002 kg∙m⁻² per year and after 1977 at a rate of 0.06 kg∙m⁻² per year, corresponding to an increase of 3.3% per decade.

From Figure 4, Figure 11, Figure 13, this chart and this expression, it is evident that this increase in average global temperature ΔT_Avg is ongoing and the result of the change in average global water vapor concentration, △TPW, continuing in an autonomous, roughly 3.5 year, positive feedback cycle.

Since 1976, changes in total heating, DTH, have been the primary driver of evaporation. The resulting increase in water vapor, DTPW_∆TH and water vapor heating, DWV_∆TH, which is the most significant change in heating, is responsible, on average, for ~ 60% of water vapor heating.

Since 1976, changes in total heating, ΔTH, have been the primary driver of evaporation. The resulting increase in water vapor, ΔTPW_∆TH and water vapor heating, ΔWV_∆TH, which is the most significant change in heating, is responsible, on average, for ~ 60% of water vapor heating.

f) Is validated by the determinations of average global temperatures, going back to 1880, which, from the application of Equations (1) & (5) are shown to be a function of changes in the concentration of water vapor,

ii. Δ T Avg = 0.4 Δ TPW − 0.045   ˚ C

with a R² of 0.9953 (See Figure 11) and an average accuracy of ±0.14%.

In 1977 there was the largest single year increase in the concentration of water vapor since 1880, 0.74 kg∙m⁻² or 4%, which was the start of a major and continuing increase. Before that, the concentration of water vapor increased at a rate of 0.002 kg∙m⁻² per year and after 1977 at a rate of 0.05 kg∙m⁻² per year, which corresponded to an increase of 4% per decade.

Referring to Equations (3) & (5) and Figure 4, there can be no doubt that changes in the concentration of water vapor drive changes in water vapor heating and therefore, in average global temperature. The correlation coefficient between changes in water vapor concentration and average global temperature is 0.9953. Changes in water vapor heating drive changes in evaporation. To the extent that the average evaporative rate exceeds the average rate of precipitation, the concentration of water vapor will increase. There is no drag on the system. This a classic positive feedback loop, which means that, absent some external intervention, as long as this imbalance continues, global warming will increase. See Figure 15.

In Sum

The Future

The climate reached a tipping point in 1977 when, compared to 1880, the concentration of water vapor jumped by 4%, the greatest short-term increase since then. Thereafter, the rate of increase in evaporation on average, continued to exceed the rate of increase in precipitation.

However, if the atmospheric density of CCN can be increased to the point that average annual precipitation can again equal or exceed average annual evaporation, global warming can not only be halted—it can be reversed. There can, at least in theory, be an immediate resolution.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Van Brunt, W. (2021) Erratum to “Autonomous Changes in the Concentration of Water Vapor Drive Climate Change” [Atmospheric and Climate Sciences 10 (2020) 443-508]. Atmospheric and Climate Sciences, 11, 535-546. https://doi.org/10.4236/acs.2021.113032

Nomenclature

Conv heating flux that drives thermal convection, Wm⁻²

ΔT change in temperature, ˚C

Eff heating efficiency—the fraction of total heating remaining after the deduction of evaporative and convective losses,

Eff = 1 − ( Evap + Conv ) / TH

Evap heating flux absorbed by evaporation, Wm⁻²

GHG Greenhouse Gases

IR Infrared Radiation

Since, the efficiency factor for land with respect to changes in total heating, Eff_∆THL from Table 3, is 0.8, then

Δ NaH L = Eff Δ THL Δ TH = 0.8 Δ TH

Δ T STLL = ( 6.34 × 10 9 + 0.8 Δ TH / 5.67 × 10 − 8 ) 1 / 4 − 281.2

Another approach—taking the first derivative, the change for surface radiation, ∆Rad_UL, as a function of changes in land temperature, is,

From Table 2 & Table 3

Eff SSL = 0.73

Eff Δ THL = 0.8

N a H L N = 0.73 T H L o + 0.8 Δ T H

N a H L N = N a H L o + Δ N a H L

Δ N a H L = N a H L N − N a H L o = E f f S S L T H L o + E f f Δ T H L Δ T H − E f f S S L T H L o

Δ N a H L = E f f Δ T H L Δ T H

Δ T S T L L = 0.198 Δ N a H L = 0.198 E f f Δ T H L Δ T H = 0.198 × 0.8 Δ T H

Δ T S T L L = 0.157 Δ T H   ˚ C (10)

D.) Change in ocean temperature from changes in total heating, ∆T_DTHO).

For E f f Δ T H O = 0.36

Δ R a d U O 80 - 19 = 0.36 Δ T H

Δ T S T L O = 0.183 × 0.36 Δ T H

Δ T S T L O = 0.07 Δ T H   ˚ C (11)

1) Changes in the Concentration of Water Vapor

The total concentration of water vapor, total precipitable water (TPW_Tot), is the sum of the concentration of water vapor from steady state evaporation as a function of sea surface temperature, TPW_SST and changes in concentration in response to changes in total heating, ΔTPW_∆TH.

T P W T o T = T P W S S T + Δ T P W Δ T H   k g ⋅ m − 2

2) Changes in concentration of Water Vapor from changes in steady state Sea Surface Temperature, SST.

The results from Equation (13), for sea surface temperatures for 1880 and 2019, temperatures of 288.67 and 289.37 K, are a 5% increase in water vapor concentration in 2019 over 1880.

T P W S S T = 17.53 ( e [ 0.0686 ( 289.46 − 288 ) ] − e [ 0.0686 ( 288.67 − 288 ) ] ) = 1.02   k g ⋅ m 2

In 1880, the initial water vapor concentration, TPW₁₈₈₀, calculated in accordance with Equation (12), for SST = 288.67 K, was 18.35 kg∙m⁻².

Then, this increase was,

1.02 / 18.35 = 5 %

3) Changes in Water Vapor Concentration Driven by Changes in Total Heating

Assume, the rate of evaporation is proportional to the fraction of heating flux driving evaporation from the seas, Evap_O.

E V ∝ E v a p

Therefore, changes in the concentration of water vapor are proportional to changes in the heating that drives evaporation.

∴ Δ T P W ∝ Δ E v a p

with changes in water vapor concentration, DTPW, proportional to changes in evaporative power, this means that:

Δ T P W ∝ Γ Δ E v a p

where Γ is a constant.

In 1880, when the change in average global temperature and therefore, total heating, was minor, ignoring changes in total heating for that year, the initial water vapor concentration, TPW₁₈₈₀, calculated in accordance with Equation (12) for SST = 288.67 K, was 18.35 kg∙m⁻². So,

TPW 1880 = Γ Evap 1880

Since changes in evaporative power are proportional to changes in total heating, And, for changes in the evaporative power, therefore changes in total heating, ΔTH, the change in water vapor concentration driven by changes in total heating, ΔTPW∆THO is

Δ TPW Δ THO = Γ Δ Evapo

From Table 2, the steady state power driving evaporation for the seas in 1880, Evap_O, was 89 Wm⁻² and for land, Evap_L, 42 Wm⁻². The total evaporative power is the area weighted average of the two,

E v a p 1880 T o t = %   A r e a   O c e a n × E v a p 1880 O + %   A r e a   L a n d ×   E v a p 1880 L

E v a p 1880 T o t = 71.11 % × 89 + 29.89 % × 42 = 75.3   W ⋅ m − 2

Thus,

Γ = T P W 1880 / E v a p 1880 T o t = 18.35 / 75.3 = 0.24

For the seas, ignoring changes in thermal convection, the change in evaporative power, ΔEvap_O, in response to changes in total heating, ΔTH, is the fraction of the change in total heating, ΔTH, that does not drive an increase in temperature, ( 1 − E f f Δ T H O ) Δ T H , then

Δ E v a p o = ( 1 − E f f Δ T H O ) Δ T H ,

Assume, the average concentration of water vapor, TPW, from the seas, TPW_O, is similarly proportional to the evaporation from the seas, Evap_O. Thus,

T P W O = Γ E v a p O

∴ Δ T P W Δ T H O = Γ Δ E v a p o = Γ ( 1 − E f f Δ T H O ) Δ T H ,

From Table 3,

E f f Δ T H O = 0.36

Hence,

Δ T P W Δ T H O = 0.24 ( 1 − 0.36 ) Δ T H

Δ T P W Δ T H O = 0.157 Δ T H (14)

Between 1880 and 2019, this factor alone, DTPW_∆THO, accounts for an increase in the concentration of water vapor of 2 kgm⁻² or 100% more than the changes in sea surface temperature can account for.

Then, since

Γ = Δ T P W Δ T H O / ( ( 1 − E f f Δ T H O ) Δ T H ),

Therefore,

Δ T P W Δ T H O = ( 1 − E f f Δ T H O ) Δ T H T P W 1880 / E v a p T o t 1880

Δ T P W Δ T H O = 18.35 ( 1 − 0.36 ) Δ T H / 75.3

Δ T P W Δ T H T o t = 0.157 Δ T H(14)

4) Total Change in the Concentration of Water Vapor

Taking into account changes in evaporation from changes in total heating, ΔTH and sea surface temperature, ΔSST, the total change in the concentration of water vapor is therefore,

Δ T P W T o t = Δ T P W Δ T H + Δ T P W S S T

Thus,

5) Changes in Water Vapor Heating from Changes in Concentration of Water Vapor

Then to determine the change in water vapor heating, ΔWV_1880-2002, from Table2 and om TableS1,

W V T o t 1880 = B R 1880 − T H C O 21880 = 322.73 − 30.35 = 292.38   W ⋅ m − 2

W V 2002 = B R 2002 − T H C O 22002 = B R 2002 − ( T H C O 21880 + Δ T H C O 21880 − 2002 )

And from Equation (14)

Δ T P W Δ T H = 0.157 Δ T H

From Table 2

Thus,

Δ T P W S S T 1880 - 2002 = 17.53 ( e 0.081 − e 0.046 )

Δ T P W S S T 1880 - 2002 = 17.53 ( e 0.081 − e 0.046 ) = 0.654

Δ T P W T o t 1880 − 2002 = Δ T P W Δ T H W 1880 − 2002 + Δ T P W S S T W 1880 − 2002

Δ T P W T o t 1880 − 2002 = 1.48 + 0.654 = 2.134

Thus,

W V = 73.3 ln ( T P W ) + 79.1

6) Changes in Water Vapor Heating from Changes in Total Heating

7) Changes in Water Vapor Heating from Steady State Temperature Driven Evaporation

8) The Change in Water Vapor Heating compared to 1880 as a Result of Both Evaporative Responses

9) Change in Average Global Temperature, ∆T_Avg

The change in average global temperature, ∆T_Avg, is the area weighted average of changes in land, ∆T_L, and ocean temperature, ∆T_SST. Therefore, with the seas covering 71.11% of the surface and land 28.89%, the change in average global temperature is,

Δ T Avg = 0.29 Δ T L + 0.71 Δ T SST

From Equation (10),

Δ T L = 0.157 Δ TH   ˚ C

From Equation (12), for the maximum increase, the surface temperature limit, ∆T_STLO for the seas,

Δ T STLO = 0.07 Δ TH   ˚ C

Since Δ TH = Δ T L / 0.157

Δ T STLO = 0.07 × Δ T L / 0.157

∴ Δ T Avg = 0.29 Δ T L + 0.71 × 0.07 / 0.157 Δ T L

thus,

Δ T Avg = Δ T L ( 0.29 + 0.315 ) = 0.605 Δ T L

Since

Δ T L = 0.157 Δ TH

Δ T Avg = 0.605 × 0.157 Δ TH = 0.096 Δ TH

Thus, the Temperature Response Factor, k_T, to changes in total heating, ∆TH, is,

k T = 0.096   K ⋅ m 2 ⋅ W − 1

10) Changes in Heating Driven by Changes in the Concentration of CO₂

The theoretical change in heating driven by changes in the concentration, C, of CO₂, ΔTH_CO2, is

Δ TH CO2 = 5.35 ln ( C / C o )   W ⋅ m − 2 (18)

11) Change in Total Heating

If in the change in total heating, ΔTH_Tot, CO₂ were a factor, then the total change in heating would be,

Δ TH Tot = 5.35 ln ( C / C o ) + Δ WV Tot (19)

12) Change in Average Global Temperature

The total increase in average global temperature, ΔT_Avg, in response to the total change in heating, ΔTH_Tot is, therefore,

Δ T Avg = k T Δ TH Tot