Dusting the climate for fingerprints. Has greenhouse warming arrived? Will we ever know?
The topic of global warming is front page news again. Although the annual average global temperature has risen by about 0.5 C since the late 19th century, investigators have had difficulty determining whether natural forces or human actions are to blame. This article summarizes the arguments pro and con and the search for a diffinative `human fingerprint` on global warming. For example, Max-Lanck researchers find it highly imporbable (1 in 20 chance) that natural forcers have caused the temperature rise. However other scientists acknowledge that uncertainties continue to plague studies aimed at detecting the human influence in climatic change. Computer climate models are the major approach, but distiguishing between recent abnormal warming due to greenhouse gases or to other causes is elusive.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 79296
- Journal Information:
- Science News, Journal Name: Science News Journal Issue: 23 Vol. 147; ISSN SCNEBK; ISSN 0036-8423
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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