Climate change

The climate is changing from human activities. This has major implications for the future and for human society and ecosystems, including birds. However, it is often masked by natural variability and there is great weather-related variability. This chapter reviews observed changes in climate, with a focus on changes in surface climate including variations in major patterns (modes) of climate variability and teleconnections. Of particular importance are changes in extremes. It describes how natural and anthropogenic drivers of climate change are assessed using climate models and concludes with a brief summary of future projected changes in climate and their impacts.