Many theories about climate change are essentially untestable, but we can still develop a consistent model based on understandable physics—in fact the data cannot be interpreted without one. Shutts and Green believe that there is some fundamental defect in all present models: it could be something physically improbable, like an unreasonable effect of tiny solar variations. More likely there is a fundamental lack in our appreciation of how very interactive systems behave.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Willet, H. C. Geografiska Annlr. 31, 295–315 (1949).
Brooks, C. E. P. Q. Jl R. meteor. Soc. 60, 153–165 (1972).
Milankovitch, M. Dandbuch der Klimatologie I, Teil A (ed. Koppen, K. & Geiger, R.) (Gebr. Borntraeger, Berlin, 1930).
Mason, B. J. Q. Jl R. meteor. Soc. 102, 473–498 (1976).
Hunt, B. G. Mon. Weath. Rev. 105, 247–260 (1976).
Budyko, M. I. Tellus 21, 611–619 (1969).
Sellers, W. D. J. appl. Meteor. 8, 392–400 (1969).
Weyl, P. K. Role of Oceans in Climate Change, Meteor. Monogr. 8, No. 30, 37–62 (American Meteorological Society, Boston, Mass, 1968).
Namias, J. J. appl. Meteor. 11, 1164–1174 (1972).
Charney, J. G. Q. Jl R. meteor. Soc. 101, 193–202 (1975).
Schneider, S. M. & Gal-Chen, T. J. geophys. Res. 78, 6182–6194 (1973).
Paltridge, G. W. Q. Jl R. meteor. Soc. 101, 475–484 (1975).
Paltridge, G. W. in Climate Change and Variability (ed. Gubbin, J.) 249–255 (Cambridge University Press, 1978).
Prigogine, I. Introduction to Thermodynamics of Irreversible Processes (Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois, 1955).
Green, J. S. A. Q. Jl R. meteor. Soc. 96, 157–185 (1970).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shutts, G., Green, J. Mechanisms and models of climatic change. Nature 276, 339–342 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/276339a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/276339a0
This article is cited by
-
Solar luminosity and the sunspot cycle
Nature (1979)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
