The Earth's Equilibrium Climate Sensitivity and Thermal Inertia

Abstract: The Earth's equilibrium climate sensitivity has received much attention because of its relevance and importance for global warming policymaking. This paper focuses on the Earth's \emph{thermal inertia time scale} which has received relatively little attention. The difference between the observed transient climate sensitivity and the equilibrium climate sensitivity is shown to be proportional to the thermal inertia time scale, and the numerical value of the proportionality factor is determined using recent observational data. Many useful policymaking insights can be extracted from the resulting empirical quantitative relation.