The question of the effect of human activity on the Earth's climate is one of intense interest and importance for scientists, politicians and policy makers throughout the world. However, no understanding of the complexity of the problem is possible without a sophisticated knowledge of the interaction between the anthropogenic effects and the natural development of the climatic system. This book deals with the physical science and modelling systems, which contribute significantly to our current strategies in observation and interpretation of climatic data within this context.Observing Global Climate Change combines a consideration of physical principles with the results of observation and numerical modelling. It begins with an introduction to climate change and the fundamentals of observing and measuring carbon dioxide activity. It goes on to outline the importance of the World Climate Research Programme and introduces the principal processes contributing to world climate change. In the third section of the book, both internal and external factors affecting climatic systems are explained and discussed at length. This authoritative account of the current state-of-the-art in observing and modelling the Earth's climatic system will be an essential addition to the library of all serious observational and climate scientists. Key Features:* Co-written by two leading international authorities in the field* Will remain an important contribution to the field well into this century* Makes special reference to the environmental impacts of increased CO2 emissions - the greenhouse effect* Balances human-made factors in climate change with natural influences* The authors both have excellent reputations in the remote sensing, climatology and related physics fields Read Less