Climate research is the effort to understand how Earth’s temperature and other conditions change over time. Scientists use a variety of tools to gather data from all over the globe. They examine ice cores for clues about past climates, sample air to track changes in greenhouse gases over time, and build computer models that forecast future changes. All of this work contributes to the understanding that human activities are changing global climate in ways not seen in millennia.
Early climate researchers stumbled upon the connection between carbon dioxide levels and temperatures. Svante Arrhenius recognized that, with the right mix of atmospheric gases, an Earth-sized planet should be warmer than it is. He also figured out how water vapor, carbon dioxide and other molecules trap escaping infrared energy from the Sun. This is called the greenhouse effect, and it helps keep our atmosphere a comfortable place to live.
In recent decades, scientific consensus has emerged that most of the warming observed over the past 65 years is caused by human activity. These observations have helped inspire international efforts like the Paris Agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Many of the environmental and social challenges we face in our ever-changing world are related to climate. PNNL researchers are working to help society prepare for these challenges by conducting research on everything from how rising sea levels will affect coastal communities to how microbes in soil will respond to changing conditions. Our goal is to provide the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about mitigating and adapting to climate change.
About the Author
