chapter - Atmospheric and Oceanic Science

ABSTRACT
This chapter is intended to introduce a synthetic view of the Climate
Change issue for readers no acquainted with the subject. The possible causes of
general climate changes are briefly addressed to identify those acting in the
same scale of the human interference with climate, namely one to three centuries.
The greenhouse effect is described, as well as the green house gases and
the human activities responsible for their emissions.
The augment of the human-caused emissions and of the global temperature
trends during the industrial period are addressed, as well as other trends of the
climate system that are consistent with the global warming process and are
indicative that this warming was, at least partly, caused by human activities.
Climate projections for the twentieth century and their potential impacts
over some of the human and natural systems are described. It is concluded that
due to the intrinsic slow answer of both the climate system to its driving forces,
and of the socioeconomic system to fast action, part of the Climate Change is
and will be unavoidable taking place during the first half of the century.
Therefore, adaptation to Climate Change is required at the same time that more
effective measures to control greenhouse emission to avoid more important
damages during the second half of the century.
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CHAPTER
GLOBAL CLIMATIC CHANGE
Vicente Barros 1
1 CIMA/CONICET. Universidad de Buenos Aires.
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