Human-induced climate change: present scientific knowledge and uncertainties

Andrew Dessler; Edward A. Parson

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511819506.005

3 - Human-induced climate change: present scientific knowledge and uncertainties

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012

Andrew Dessler and

Edward A. Parson

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Andrew Dessler: Affiliation:
Texas A & M University
Edward A. Parson: Affiliation:
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

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Summary

The scientific primer in Section 1.2 discussed the basic physics of climate and why the climate is expected to warm if more greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere. This chapter deepens the discussion, examining current scientific knowledge of the observed changes in the Earth's climate, the extent of human influence on these changes, and potential future changes in the climate. Contrary to the impression you might get from following the debate in the news, current scientific understanding of the climate, its variations, and influences on it, is actually quite advanced. We parse the questions of the reality and importance of climate change into four separate, specific questions.

* Is the climate changing?
* Are human activities responsible?
* What further climate changes are likely?
* What will the impacts be?

Sections 3.1 through 3.4 review the available evidence and summarize present scientific knowledge on each of these questions, as well as key uncertainties and controversies. Section 3.5 reviews a few of the most widely circulated claims that deny the main points of current scientific knowledge about climate change. Mostly circulated in non-scientific forums, these claims are usually presented by those who oppose policy action to limit climate change, sometimes called “climate change skeptics.”

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change
A Guide to the Debate
, pp. 61 - 111

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511819506.005 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2010

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References

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