Introduction

Climate System

Causes of Climate Change

Empirical Study of Climate

Climate Modelling

Palaeoclimatic Change

Contemporary Climate Change

Epilogue
Appendix
References

6.1. Introduction

The importance of water vapour feedback in climate change has long been recognised (Manabe & Wetherald, 1967). The concentration of water vapour in the atmosphere increases rapidly with rising temperature (about 6%/°C); this is the basis for the strong positive water vapour feedback seen in current climate models (whereby increases in temperature produce increases in atmospheric water vapour which in turn enhance the greenhouse forcing leading to further warming). All current GCMs simulate a strong positive water vapour feedback (Cess et al., 1990) and are in agreement with observational data (Raval & Ramanathan, 1989).

Greenhouse Effect

Enhanced G-Effect

Greenhouse Gases
 -Carbon Dioxide
  ·Sources
  ·Sinks
  ·Carbon Cycle
  ·Concentrations
  ·Equilibrium
 -Methane
  ·Sources
  ·Sinks
  ·Concentrations
 -Nitrous Oxide
  ·Sources
  ·Sinks
  ·Concentrations
 -Halocarbons
  ·Sources
  ·Sinks
  ·Concentrations
 -Ozone
 -Other Gases
 -Lifetimes
 -Summary

Greenhouse Forcing
 -Forcing Factors
 -GWPs
 -ΔF-ΔC
 -1765 to 1990
 -Ozone

Aerosols
 -Sources & Sinks
 -Forcing
  ·Direct
  ·Indirect
 -Total Forcing

Climate Variations
 -Surface Temp.
 -Precipitation
 -Other
  ·Stratosphere
  ·Cryosphere
  ·Atmos. Circulation
  ·Cloudiness

Detection
 -Modelling
 -Attribution
  ·Latitudes.
  ·Stratosphere
  ·Precipitation
  ·Sea Level
  ·Fingerprints
 -When?

Future Climate
 -GCM Simulations
 -Feedbacks
  ·Water Vapour
  ·Clouds
  ·Ice Albedo
  ·G-house Gases
 -21st Century

Impacts
 -Agriculture
 -Forestry
 -Ecosystems
 -Water Resources
 -Oceans/Coasts
 -Human & Health

Responses
 -Stabilising
 -FCCC
 -Kyoto Protocol
 -UK Programme
  ·Energy Demand
  ·Energy Supply
 -Evaluation