21st CENTURY

21st CENTURY

Significant results from some of the best vailable indicate that a global average warming of 0.3°C per decade can be expected to occur during the 21^st century, assuming that mankind fails to control current of greenhouse gases, although it could be as high as 0.6°C. In addition regional variations in the patterns of change will occur, with greater warming likely in the polar regions. Currently, models suggest that if the atmospheric concentration of, the main is doubled from pre-industrial levels, the Earth will warm by between 1.5 and 4.5°C sometime over the next 200 years or so. The large margin of error in future prediction of temperature emphasises that modelling the climate is inherently a difficult business. Part of the problem stems from trying to guess what climate feedbacks might occur that may enhance the initial warming due to an Melting ice in the polar regions for example could accelerate warming because exposed ground absorbs more energy from the Sun than snow and ice, which reflect about 80 to 90%.

Whilst uncertainties concerning the actual response of the global climate to man-made greenhouse gas ist, most scientists agree that the global warming trend of the 20^th century will continue into the 21st century. The projected rate of warming is faster than at any time during recent Earth history. If nations fail to respond, the world may experience numerous adverse as a result of global warming in the decades ahead.