Energy Balance Climate Model

Budyko-Sellers EBM: C·dT/dt = Q·(1−α(T)) − ε·σ·T⁴ — ice-albedo bistability

T (K)
T (°C)
Albedo α(T)
Net forcing (W/m²)
State
Ice-albedo feedback creates bistability. When T < T_freeze (263K), high ice albedo reflects more sunlight → cooling. When T > T_melt (273K), low albedo absorbs more → warming. The bifurcation diagram shows stable equilibria (solid) vs unstable branch (dashed). Earth can exist in warm or "snowball" states.