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Equation 1 · Part 4 · Comparing the Main Approaches to Earth Systems and Climate Dynamics

Symbol E

dCatmdt=E(t)−Focean(t)−Fland(t)\frac{dC_{\text{atm}}}{dt} = E(t) - F_{\text{ocean}}(t) - F_{\text{land}}(t)
EE

What this part means

E is one of the signed contributions combined to compute the quantity on the left.

Its job in the formula

E is one of the signed contributions combined to compute the quantity on the left.

The passage around this formula

The three paths converge on the same physical picture, but for genuinely different reasons: measured composition plus known physics; inferred paleo-composition plus a calibrated proxy relationship; and modeled response, validated against the other two. Treating a modeled sensitivity number as though it had the same evidentiary status as a Mauna Loa flask measurement, or treating an isotope-derived paleotemperature as though it had instrumental-grade resolution, both misdescribe the method. This mass-balance identity — the rate of change of atmospheric carbon equals emissions minus net ocean and land uptake — is the same equation whether it is applied to this decade or to a glacial cycle…

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Learn the underlying idea

A function assigns an output to each allowed input. The expression f(x) means “apply f to x”.

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See this notation across published equations →

Sources cited in the article section

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