| Abstract: | Debate over whether human activity causes Earth climate change obscures the immensity of the dynamic systems that create and maintain climate on the planet. Anthropocentric debate leads people to believe that they can alter these planetary dynamic systems to prevent that they perceive as negative climate impacts on human civilization. Although politicians offer simplistic remedies, such as the Kyoto Protocol, global climate continues to change naturally. Better planning for the inevitable dislocations that have followed natural global climate changes throughout human history requires us to accept the fact that climate will change, and that human society must adapt to the changes. Over the last decade, the scientific literature reported a shift in emphasis from attempting to build theoretical models of putative human impacts on climate to understanding the planetwide dynamic processes that are the natural climate drivers. The current scientific literature is beginning to report the history of past climate change, the extent of natural climate variability, natural system drivers, and the episodicity of many climate changes. The scientific arguments have broadened from focus upon human effects on climate to include the array of natural phenomena that have driven global climate change for eons. However, significant political issues with long-term social consequences continue their advance. This paper summarizes recent scientific progress in climate science and arguments about human influence on climate. ?? 2004. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70026720 |
| Citation Author: | Gerhard, L. C. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | |
| Citation Datum: | |
| Citation Day: | |
| Citation Edition: | |
| Citation Editor: | |
| Citation End Page: | 1220 |
| Citation Issue: | 9 |
| Citation Keywords: | |
| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin |
| Citation LatN: | |
| Citation LatS: | |
| Citation LonE: | |
| Citation LonW: | |
| Citation Month: | |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | 10 |
| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | |
| Citation Projection: | |
| Citation Public Comments: | |
| Citation Publisher: | |
| Citation Series: | |
| Citation Series Code: | |
| Citation Series Number: | |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Climate change: Conflict of observational science, theory, and politics; 2004; Article; Journal; American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin; Gerhard, L. C. |
| Citation Start Page: | 1211 |
| Citation Volume: | 88 |
| Citation Year: | 2004 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Climate change: Conflict of observational science, theory, and politics; 2004; Article; Journal; American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin; Gerhard, L. C. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1306/03220403107 |
| Date Other: | Thu, 1 Jan 2004 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | |
