WMO-No. 0926, World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2002, 142 pp.
The atmosphere is the essential physical and chemical environment for life. Changes, anthropogenic or otherwise, to the physical and chemical properties of the atmosphere have the potential of affecting directly the quality of life and even the very existence of some forms of life. Human-induced climate change, in particular, as well as other global environmental issues such as land degradation, loss of biological diversity and stratospheric ozone depletion, threatens our ability to meet very basic human needs, such as adequate food, water and energy, safe shelter and a healthy environment.Contents.
Foreword.
Acknowledgements.
Introduction.
Understanding the climate system.
Natural temporal variability in the climate system.
Human impacts on the climate system.
Modelling climate change.
Climate prediction.
Introduction to climate change.
Modelling, detection, and attribution of recent and future climate change.
Potential impacts of climate change.
Concluding remarks.
References.
Subject index.
