Earth’s response to CO2 underestimated

Published in Physics World, 9 Dec 2009

Global warming resulting from slowly changing Earth systems could be up to 50% greater than previously thought, according to research by UK and US scientists. The study reinforces the notion that certain poorly understood systems such as ice sheets or vegetation are integral to accurately predicting future temperatures. It also paints an ever-bleaker outlook for our planet at a critical time when world leaders are gathering for a United Nations conference in Copenhagen to discuss practicable ways of mitigating climate change.

“If we want to build an agreement that is going to last for many, many centuries – so for our grandchildren’s grandchildren’s grandchildren’s grandchildren – then we need to be taking in these issues,” lead author Dan Lunt of the University of Bristol told physicsworld.com. […]

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