Abstract
Twentieth century climate exhibits a strong warming trend. The warming contains a significant contribution from enhanced atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations due to anthropogenic emissions. The climate will continue to warm during the 21st century due to the large inertia of the Earth System and in response to additional GHG emissions. This is mainly due to three factors: natural variability, response uncertainty, and GHG emission scenario uncertainty. Uncertainty due to natural variability dominates at short time scales of years, while at the longer centennial time scales scenario uncertainty provides the largest contribution to the total uncertainty. Yet the likelihood is large that globally averaged surface air temperature (SAT) will exceed a level toward the end of the 21st century that will be unprecedented during the history of mankind, even if measures are taken to reduce GHG emissions. It is this long-term perspective that demands immediate political action. Keywords:anthropogenic emissions; global warming; greenhouse gas (GHG); natural variability; oceans; response uncertainty; surface air temperature (SAT)
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
