|Climate change may be a change in weather conditions, or in the distribution of weather around the average conditions. Climate change is an important and long-lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. Climate change may be a change in weather conditions, or in the distribution of weather around the average conditions. Climate change is generally caused by factors such as biotic processes, variations in solar radiation received by Earth, plate tectonics, and volcanic eruptions. Certain human activities have also been a significant cause of climate change, which is often referred to as ""global warming"".
Peer review refers to the work done during the screening of submitted manuscripts and funding applications. This process encourages authors to meet the accepted standards of their discipline and reduces the dissemination of irrelevant findings, unwarranted claims, unacceptable interpretations, and personal views. Publications that have not undergone peer review are likely to be regarded with suspicion by academic scholars and professionals.