Page 29 - Alternative Energy Systems in Building Design

6 GLOBAL WARMING: CLIMATIC AND ATMOSPHERIC CHANGES

Figure 1.5 Great ocean conveyer belt. Courtesy of United Nations Environmental
Program/GRID-Arendal.

The Memory of Climate

Most forms of internal variability in the climate system have not been created by
humankind but have, through the ages, shown cyclic repeatability. This means that the
current state of climate has a track record of how it behaves. For example, a decade of
dry conditions may cause lakes to shrink, plains to dry up, and deserts to expand. In
turn, these conditions may lead to less rainfall in the following years. In short, climate
change can be a self-perpetuating process because different aspects of the environment
respond in different ways to the fluctuations that inevitably occur. Figure 1.5 depicts
graphic presentation of the great ocean conveyer belt.

Human Influences on Climate Change

THE USE OF SEQUESTERED SOLAR ENERGY AND
ANTHROPOGENIC CAUSES OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
Anthropogenic factors are acts by humankind that affect the environment and influ-
ence climate. Various theories of human-induced climate change have been debated
for many years. The biggest factor of present concern is the increase in CO levels
2
owing to emissions from combustion. Other concerns are particulate matter in the
atmosphere that exerts a cooling effect. Other factors, such as land use, animal hus-
bandry, agriculture, and deforestation, also affect climate.