It needs to be expanded to account for the vertical and regional structure of radiative forcing and also
for nonradiative climate forcings.
Another consideration in devising metrics
for nonradiative forcings is enabling direct comparison with radiative forcings, computed in units of watts per square meter.
Nonetheless, the limitations call for broadening the concept to account
for nonradiative forcing, spatial and temporal heterogeneity of forcing, and nonlinearities.
Not exact matches
No metrics
for quantifying such
nonradiative forcings have been accepted.
The atmosphere and oceans, through their general circulation, act as vast heat engines, compensating
for this imbalance by providing
nonradiative mechanisms
for the transfer of heat from the Equator to the poles.
Nonradiative heat transfer again compensates
for the imbalance, this time largely by vertical atmospheric motions involving the evaporation and condensation of water.
As is the case
for regional radiative forcing, further work is needed to quantify links between regional
nonradiative forcing and climate response.