water vapour feedback
Quick Summary
The water vapor feedback is a crucial process in Earth's climate system. Unlike other greenhouse gases, the concentration of water vapor in the atmosphere is primarily determined by air temperature, not direct human influence. As temperatures rise, more water evaporates from surfaces, increasing atmospheric water vapor. Since water vapor is a potent greenhouse gas, this leads to further warming, creating a positive feedback loop that amplifies initial temperature changes. This feedback mechanism is a key reason why climate sensitivity is significantly higher than it would be without these additional effects. Evaporation, the process by which water transitions from liquid to gas, is influenced by factors like temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed.123
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
