Climate science focuses on understanding the natural and human-induced workings of Earth’s complex climate system—the atmosphere, oceans, land surface and ice. It is a multidisciplinary field that requires extensive observational and theoretical knowledge, including mathematical modeling. In recent decades, growing concern about anthropogenic climate change has prompted an influx of research funding. It is important to remember, however, that there are many lines of inquiry within climate science that are not focused on assessing the impact of human activities on the global average temperature.
Observational evidence has clearly established that the Earth’s globally averaged surface temperatures are increasing. The most widely accepted explanation for this increase is an increase in the amount of heat-trapping greenhouse gases (e.g. CO2) in the atmosphere from human activities, combined with feedback processes that amplify the warming.
In addition, observations and models have also shown that climate changes are already affecting many environmental and human health processes. They are expected to continue to do so, with effects likely to be felt in every country and region of the world.
Understanding and predicting the impacts of climate change is important for many reasons, including ensuring that people are prepared for risks and opportunities posed by these changes. For example, it is crucial to understand how these changes might influence the spread of diseases and the habitats of wildlife such as insects and migratory birds. It is equally important to know how climate changes might affect water resources and the availability of fresh food in different regions.
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