PaleoClimate Glossary

climatic feedback mechanisms

A feedback is an enhancement (positive feedback) or a damping (negative feedback) of an initial change, in this case in the climate system. For example, when less energy reaches the earth, temperature decreases and the area covered by snow increases. The albedo of the planet decreases, reflecting more energy towards the atmosphere. Consequently less energy is available at the surface, and temperature further decreases. The whole "cycle" from the initial cooling to the further cooling is a feedback. It is a positive feedback in this example.