Table 2.9. Major Climatic Feedback Mechanisms and increase the amount of radiation absorbed. However, the mechanics of the polar ice melting process are largely unknown, and only speculation is possible about the response of polar ice masses to global warming. The lack of adequate knowledge of feedback mechanisms limits efforts to predict the direction and magnitude of future climatic change. More information needs to be developed on the physical mechanisms of the feedback effects as well as their interrelationships and the magnitude of their influence . 2.4.2 Natural Climatic Fluctuations Despite the evidence that man's activities may be affecting the net climate in the direction of warming, the fact remains that until the last 10 years or so the earth has actually been cooling. It is unlikely that this cooling can be attributed to man’s injection of particles into the atmosphere. Therefore, it is apparent that natural climatic variations have to this point outweighted man's influence on the climate. The reasons for the natural climatic variability probably include variations in solar input, volcanic
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