Modelling studies on the probability and predictability of future climate change ...

• Main Author: Knutti, Reto
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: :unas 2002
• Subjects: 530 Physics; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.48350/192481; https://boris.unibe.ch/192481/

There is strong evidence that the Earth’s climate has changed significantly over the last century. Direct observations of near-surface atmospheric temperature and sub-surface ocean temperature as well as numerous indirect observations of sea ice extent, snow cover and glacier retreats all point to a warming world. The topic of climate change has thus attracted worldwide attention and alarmed the public as well as the scientific community seeking for explanations. The recent Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC, 2001] has further strengthened our confidence in the widely accepted view of a strong anthropogenic influence on the climate system during the last century. Human activities affect the climate system primarily through the emission of greenhouse gases and aerosols that change the radiation balance of the atmosphere. Greenhouse gas concentrations are projected to increase further over the next century due to anthropogenic emissions, and will thus cause an ...