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Line 1: − + + − Global warming should not be confused with natural variability of the climate system, such as ice ages. The Earth has experienced numerous [[ice age]]s over the past two million years, during which global temperatures were approximately 6 degrees Celsius cooler than the present. The frigid temperatures allowed ice sheets to expand southward, covering much of [[Asia]], [[Europe]], and [[North America]]. The cooling associated with ice ages is gradual, while the terminations are relatively rapid. However, even the rapid terminations of ice ages take centuries to millennia, which contrasts with the effects predicted for anthropogenic global warming. Projections of future climate predict global surface temperature to rise by 2 degrees Celsius (give or take about 1.5 C) between about the year 2000 and 2100. This predicted rapid warming is attributed to increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, which through a complex set of climatic feedbacks (e.g., water vapor, lapse rate, albedo, vegetative, and cloud feedbacks) leads to the warming. Ultimately this is the same physical mechanism as the [[greenhouse effect]], in which outgoing infrared radiation is retained by the Earth system, raising the global temperature.+ + + + + +
First sentence failed to separate science from politics
[[Image:Rogerrevelle.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Roger Revelle]]]]
[[Image:Rogerrevelle.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Roger Revelle]]]]
'''Global warming''' is the term ascribed to an increase in global average surface temperature associated with increases in atmospheric concentrations of [[greenhouse gases]].
'''Global warming''' is the term ascribed to an increase in global average surface temperature.
Independendent scientists such as [[Richard Lindzen]], [[Fred Singer]], etc., say that the patterns of global warming are naturally caused.
Politicians who support the [[Kyoto Protocal]] have made the [[junk science]] claim that there's a cause and effect relationship between increases in atmospheric concentrations of [[greenhouse gases]] and air temperature, but this politically motivated claim is contradicted by scientific fact.
==Natural variability of the climate system==
The Earth has experienced numerous [[ice age]]s over the past two million years, during which global temperatures were approximately 6 degrees Celsius cooler than the present. The frigid temperatures allowed ice sheets to expand southward, covering much of [[Asia]], [[Europe]], and [[North America]]. The cooling associated with ice ages is gradual, while the terminations are relatively rapid. However, even the rapid terminations of ice ages take centuries to millennia, which contrasts with the effects predicted for anthropogenic global warming. Projections of future climate predict global surface temperature to rise by 2 degrees Celsius (give or take about 1.5 C) between about the year 2000 and 2100. This predicted rapid warming is attributed to increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, which through a complex set of climatic feedbacks (e.g., water vapor, lapse rate, albedo, vegetative, and cloud feedbacks) leads to the warming. Ultimately this is the same physical mechanism as the [[greenhouse effect]], in which outgoing infrared radiation is retained by the Earth system, raising the global temperature.
There is a close correlation between the average temperature of the Earth's surface and the amount of [[carbon dioxide]] in the atmosphere. During warm periods, there are high concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and lower levels during cool periods.
There is a close correlation between the average temperature of the Earth's surface and the amount of [[carbon dioxide]] in the atmosphere. During warm periods, there are high concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and lower levels during cool periods.