This paper represents a criticism of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) use of the value 0.5 K (W m−2)−1 for the climate sensitivity parameter, λ. A simple model is introduced which shows that the non-radiative effect of water vapour is a negative feedback ensuring that the Earth's surface temperature is cooler by some 17°C than if it did not participate in the energy budget.
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