Climate impact of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide

Journal Article · Fri Aug 28 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.213.4511.957· OSTI ID:5998902

Hansen, J; Johnson, D; Lacis, A; Lebedeff, S; Lee, P; Rind, D; Russell, G

The global temperature rose by 0.2/sup 0/C between the middle 1960's and 1980, yielding a warming of 0.4/sup 0/C in the past century. This temperature increase is consistent with the calculated greenhouse effect due to measured increases of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Variations of volcanic aerosols and possibly solar luminosity appear to be primary causes of observed fluctuations about the mean trend of increasing temperature. It is shown that the anthropogenic carbon dioxide warming should emerge from the noise level of natural climate variability by the end of the century, and there is a high probability of warming in the 1980's. Potential effects on climate in the 21st century include the creation of drought-prone regions in North America and central Asia as part of a shifting of climatic zones, erosion of the West Antarctic ice sheet with a consequent worldwide rise in sea level, and opening of the fabled Northwest Passage.

• Research Organization: Goddard Space Flight Center, New York, NY
• OSTI ID: 5998902
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 213:4511; ISSN SCIEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500100* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATES
DISTURBANCES
EARTH PLANET
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANETS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
VARIATIONS