Read any scientific paper or blog on climate and you’re bound to come across the phrase radiative forcing.  Radiative forcing is central to all climate science. Radiation from the sun heats our atmosphere and earth surface.  Some of this radiation is reflected back to space. If there is a balance between incoming and outgoing radiation then average global atmospheric temperatures neither increase or decrease. However, if the balance is perturbed, climate will warm or cool. Radiative forcing causes climate imbalances.  Thus, volcanic aerosols tend to cool things off, decreasing albedo will tend to warm them. Continue reading →