RCPs (Representative Concentration Pathways)

Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) are scenarios used in climate research to project potential future climate changes based on different levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Each RCP describes a specific trajectory of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, which corresponds to various societal choices and policies regarding energy use, land management, and technology. The numbers in the names, like RCP4.5 or RCP8.5, represent the amount of radiative forcing (warming effect) expected by the year 2100, measured in watts per square meter. These pathways help scientists understand possible climate futures and assess their impacts on the environment and society.