HUMA 1780 Lecture Notes - Scenario Analysis, Atmospheric Methane, Ice Core
Document Summary
Science, technology and the environment (sc nats 1840a) . Accurate measurements of average co2 concentrations require isolated locations to avoid local anomalies. 20% increase since 1960 confirmed by other stations. Little evidence of any increase in water vapour. Recent changes in greenhouse gas concentrations may be of man-made (anthropogenic) origin: Antarctic ice core measurements match up with period of industrialization. Co2 concentration increased by 40% since 1750. Attributing rise in gg concentration to human activities unambiguously is challenging. Greenhouse gas concentrations, which play a crucial role in determining earth"s climate, are rising. Hypothesis: global warming is caused by an enhanced greenhouse effect, the result of rising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. No simple experiment can establish a clear causal link between gg and climate change. General circulation model (gcm): mathematical representation of atmosphere + processes within it + interaction with rest of ecosphere. Provide insight into how different climate processes come together to yield aggregate behaviour.
