Joint Dependence of Longwave Feedback on Surface Temperature and Relative Humidity

Abstract

Various studies have suggested that Earth's clear-sky outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) varies linearly with surface temperature, with a longwave clear-sky feedback that is, independent of surface temperature and relative humidity. However, this uniformity conflicts with the notion that humidity controls tropical stability (e.g., the “furnace” and “radiator fins” of Pierrehumbert (1995, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1995)052%3C1784:TRFATL%3E2.0.CO;2)). Here, we use a column model to explore the dependence of longwave clear-sky feedback on both surface temperature and relative humidity. We find that a strong humidity dependence in the feedback emerges above 275 K, which stems from the closing of the (Formula presented.) O window, and that the furnace and radiator fins are consequences of this dependence. We then clarify that radiator fins are better characterized by tropical variations in clear-sky feedback than OLR. Finally, we construct a simple model for estimating the all-sky feedback and find that although clouds lower the magnitude of longwave feedback, the humidity-dependence persists.