Just How Sensitive Is Earth's Climate to Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide?
Thursday, October 8, 2009 - 19:49
in Earth & Climate
Carbon dioxide levels climbing toward a doubling of the 280 parts per million (ppm) concentration found in the preindustrial atmosphere pose the question: What impact will this increased greenhouse gas load have on the climate? If relatively small changes in CO 2 levels have big effects--meaning that we live in a more sensitive climate system--the planet could warm by as much as 6 degrees Celsius on average with attendant results such as changed weather patterns and sea-level rise. A less sensitive climate system would mean average warming of less than 2 degrees C and, therefore, fewer ramifications from global warming. [More]