Human Influence on the Atmospheric Vertical Temperature Structure: Detection and Observations
Recent work suggests a discernible human influence on climate. This finding is supported, with less restrictive assumptions than those used in earlier studies, by a 1961 through 1995 data set of radiosonde observations and by ensembles of coupled atmosphere-ocean simulations forced with changes in greenhouse gases, tropospheric sulfate aerosols, and stratospheric ozone. On balance, agreement between the simulations and observations is best for a combination of greenhouse gas, aerosol, and ozone forcing. The uncertainties remaining are due to imperfect knowledge of radiative forcing, natural climate variability, and errors in observations and model response.
S. F. B. Tett, J. F. B. Mitchell, D. E. Parker, Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research, UK Meterological Office, London Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 2SY, UK. M. R. Allen, Space Science Department, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, OX11 0QX, UK.
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