The science of climate change is hugely complex because it encompasses the entirety of the world’s natural systems. Scientists have to take into account an enormous number of variables: the natural variations of the earth’s climate; the carbon cycle, by which greenhouse gases are emitted and absorbed; the orbit of the earth around the sun; the role clouds play in reflecting the sun’s rays or trapping heat on the earth’s surface.
Our knowledge of some of these – such as the earth’s orbit – is well-established but in other areas there are still large gaps. For instance, it is difficult to tell how much clouds contribute to global warming or detract from it.
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