Comments on the Paper "Earth's energy imbalance and implications" by J. Hansen, M. Sato, P. Kharecha, and K. von Schuckmann

TL;DR

This paper critiques Hansen et al.'s assessment of Earth's energy imbalance, arguing that the claimed imbalance is not supported by current satellite data and that the uncertainties in measurements make precise quantification unfeasible.

Contribution

It provides a critical analysis showing that the previously claimed planetary energy imbalance is not substantiated by recent satellite measurements and inherent data uncertainties.

Findings

The planetary energy imbalance of 0.58 W/m^2 is not supported by recent satellite data.

Measurement uncertainties prevent precise quantification of Earth's energy flux.

The implications of the previously claimed energy imbalance are unfounded.

Abstract

In our comments we explicitly acknowledge the attempt of Hansen et al. to assess various uncertainties inherent in geophysical data being based on different measuring concepts and observation methods. However, with regard to the planetary energy budget, this paper offers some vulnerable points. We will focus our comments on these vulnerable points only. We will show that the energy imbalance of the entire Earth-atmosphere system is, indeed, based on these inherent uncertainties. We will demonstrate that the accuracy in the quantification of the global energy flux budget as claimed by Hansen et al. is, by far, not achievable in case of the entire Earth-atmosphere system. Using the value of the solar constant of S_0 = 1361 W/m^2 recently determined on the basis of total-solar-irradiance (TSI) observation by three different satellite projects (ACRIMSAT/ACRIM3 launched in 2000, SORCE/TIM launched in 2003, and PICARD/PREMOS launched in 2010) we will document that the planetary energy imbalance of F = 0.58 +/- 0.15 W/m^2 calculated by Hansen et al. does not exist. Consequently, the implications related to this planetary energy imbalance have no basis.