The Arctic temperature response to emissions of aerosols—specifically black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC), and sulfate—depends on both the sector and the region where these emissions originate. Thus, the net Arctic temperature response to global aerosol emissions reductions will depend strongly on the blend of emissions sources being targeted. We use recently published equilibrium Arctic tem...

Climatic warming is expected to particularly alter greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from soils in cold ecosystems such as tundra. We used 1 m(2) open-top chambers (OTCs) during three growing seasons to examine how warming (+0.8-1.2 °C) affects the fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from alpine tundra soils. Results showed that OTC warming increased soil CO2 effl...

It is now well understood that the global surface ocean, whose pH has been reduced by;0.1 in response to rising atmospheric CO2 since industrialization, will continue to become more acidic as fossil fuel CO2 emissions escalate. However, it is unclear how uncertainties in climate sensitivity to future CO2 emissions will alter the manifestation of ocean acidification. Using an earth system model ...

A key aspect of sustainable development in a country is how energy, environment and economic sectors interact. Greenhouse gas emissions and their impacts are among important environmental issues that have been in focus. The increase in the concentration of these gases in atmosphere to levels above the natural level results in global warming, depletion of the Earth’s protective layer against har...

A steadily growing human population and the growing global economy have led to increasing energy consumption and the realization that fossil fuels are a finite resource on earth. Moreover, due to the rising global temperature, there is a need to reduce CO2 emissions to mitigate or prevent further global warming. Both needs have fueled international efforts to convert the current energy supply s...

Palaeoclimate data show that the Earth's climate is remarkably sensitive to global forcings. Positive feedbacks predominate. This allows the entire planet to be whipsawed between climate states. One feedback, the 'albedo flip' property of ice/water, provides a powerful trigger mechanism. A climate forcing that 'flips' the albedo of a sufficient portion of an ice sheet can spark a cataclysm. Ine...

Many analysts believe that adverse climate changes in the form of global warming are— or soon will be—under way as the result of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. (See the box entitled “What Is Global Warming?”) The largest such source of these gases is carbon dioxide (CO2) resulting from the growing consumption of fossil fuels (petroleum products, natural gas, and coal). Consequentl...

Many analysts believe that adverse climate changes in the form of global warming are— or soon will be—under way as the result of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. (See the box entitled “What Is Global Warming?”) The largest such source of these gases is carbon dioxide (CO2) resulting from the growing consumption of fossil fuels (petroleum products, natural gas, and coal). Consequentl...