Q.Isn't the global warming process just part of the natural climate changes that the earth has been going through for millions of years?
A.Yes, there are normal changes in the climate of earth that can be found through geological study and fossil records, but the climate change that is occurring today is much more extreme than has been ever been seen in the past, and must be caused by something more than just the normal climate changes of the earth.
Q.Is the atmosphere already filled up -- saturated -- with enough CO2 so that any more won't add much warming?
A.No...It isn't even saturated on the runaway greenhouse planet Venus, with its atmosphere made up of 92 percent CO2. By adding more CO2 will continue to keep warming Earth, and in the not too distant future, could warm it far beyond temperatures that civilization is prepared for.
Q.Can solar activity or other natural processes explain global warming?
A.No. The incoming solar radiation has been almost constant for the past 50 years. In fact, it has slightly decreased over this period.The scientists explain that the natural cycles and processes are already accounted for in climate models.
Q.Is the climate becoming more variable or extreme?
A.the climate is becoming more extreme but not more variable. Changes in temperature extremes include decreases in the number of unusually cold days and nights and increases in the number of unusually warm days and nights. The temperature extremes have not been found to have a significant effect on variability from year to year but studies have shown a decrease in variabilty throughtout each year. Areas that have excessive dry or wet spells have had more intense spells over the past few years.
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