LOW-COST LONG-TERM MONITORING OF GLOBAL CLIMATE FORGINGS AND FEEDBACKS

We describe the rationale for long-term monitoring of global climate f orcings and radiative feedbacks as a contribution to interpretation of long-term global temperature change. Our discussion is based on a mor e detailed study and workshop report (Hansen et al., 1993b). We focus on the potential contribution of a proposed series of inexpensive smal l satellites, but we discuss also the need for complementary climate p rocess studies and ground-based measurements. Some of these measuremen ts could be made inexpensively by students, providing both valuable cl imate data and science educational experience.