Abstract
Climate is in constant interaction with solar irradiation and emissions from the biosphere, including those induced by man. In particular trace gases with more than two atoms in a molecule can influence valued properties of the atmosphere, such as absorption of UV radiation, constancy of the radiation budget, and proper photochemistry. Only the long-lived trace gases with a global distribution significantly affect climate and the ozone layer; the others are much more involved in the regional and continental scale problems of acidification and other forms of air pollution.
Discussed are increased UV-B irradiation, alkalinity of sea water, enhancement of photosynthesis and the phenomenon of greenhouse warming due to increasing emissions of CO2, CH4, N2O and CFC’s, giving for each the proportional contribution to greenhouse warming. The impact of a warmer world is discussed with special reference to the Northern Hemisphere terrestrial biomes.
An indication is given of required reductions of (expected) emissions of greenhouse gases, following a scenario approach regarding world economic and population growth. Discussed are accelerated emissions in case of no measures for reduction, the measures to be taken to reach stabilization in warming commitment and the measures that can additionally decrease the warming commitment. As these requirements are unlikely to be met, global warming and sea level rise is undoubtedly going to take place over the next decades to century. Sea-level rise will not only affect coastal lowlands, but salt water intrusion as far inland as to the 5-metre contourline is not unrealistic. Shown are vulnerable areas in the world at large and in Europe in particular.
The societal costs are discussed, assuming different strategies to prevention (limiting the emissions) and adaptation to the impacts. Different countries (coastal versus continental; developed versus developing) may have different perceptions and attitudes to either prevention, adaptation or both. The Netherlands government has taken various initiatives to enhance public awareness and international cooperation, in the framework of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climatic Change.
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Hekstra, G.P. (1990). Man’s Impact on Atmosphere and Climate: A Global Threat? Strategies to Combat Global Warming. In: Beukema, J.J., Wolff, W.J., Brouns, J.J.W.M. (eds) Expected Effects of Climatic Change on Marine Coastal Ecosystems. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 57. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2003-3_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2003-3_2
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