Contents 1 Climate Change 1.1 Constructed Uncertainty 1.2 IPCC Report 1.3 Current and Future Effects of Climate Change

Climate Change Edit

Climate Change refers to the result of human activities, especially the buildup of Greenhouse Gases, such as carbon dioxide and nitric oxide, which result from the consumption of fossil fuels for heating, travel, and the production of chemicals and plastics. This has also been referred to as Global Warming - the buildup of the average heat of the atmosphere and the oceans over time, although Climate Change is a more comprehensive description because it may result in the cooling of some regions and the warming of others, as well as increases in the frequency of storms, the melting of glaciers, and the rise of ocean levels.

Constructed Uncertainty Edit

The complexity of climate change as a scientific phenomenon has made it an easy target for efforts by major corporate carbon emitters to create doubt about its anthropogenic causes and severity. For example, some argue that the Earth is still leaving an ice age, which takes many millennia, and therefore that general trasition is responsible. Other climate skeptics have questioned the validity of the statistical methodology used for one of findings supporting the idea that global temperatures are increasing geometrically. Further, the possible ramifications of global warming are highly uncertain, for example the melting of ice may not cause sea levels to increase as much as has been reported for several reasons. Yet others have argued that increased levels of atmospheric CO₂ may enhance plant growth.

These "climate skeptics" belong a larger class of experts for hire that include those who once denied a link between smoking tobacco and lung disease because some non-smokers also suffered from lung cancer. That some of them are less than forthcoming about the sources of their funding is a good indication that their contibutions to the debate might be suspect.

IPCC Report Edit

Many scientists have evaluated numerous possible signs that global warming is occurring. Some results have been inconclusive, flawed, or based upon sloppy scientific technique. However, many different scientists, using many different methods for measurement, in many different countries have come to a consensus that it is "very likely" that climate change caused by humans is occurring. This conclusion was collated by the Intergovernment Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was most recently updated and summarized in November, 2007.

Current and Future Effects of Climate Change Edit

While many scientists continue to evaluate and refine the studies that have been done to date, others are now working to predict the possible effects of climate change. The scientific challenge of determining that climate change is likely has been a great challenge. Predicting the future is an even greater challenge for scientists. However, while scientists cannot accurately predict precise outcomes, they have presented reasonable hypotheses as to what may occur. In some cases, the uncertainty is around timing and magnitude. Other uncertainties include the degree to which our responses affect the progress. Further, compounded impacts (several unrelated effects interacting with each other to amplify, or mitigate) create further uncertainty.