Causes of climate change - human and natural factors
A natural function of the Earth's atmosphere is to keep in some of the heat that is lost from the Earth. This is known as the The retention of heat in the atmosphere caused by the build-up of greenhouse gases..
- The atmosphere allows the heat from the Sun (short-wave radiation) to pass through to heat the Earth's surface.
- The Earth's surface then gives off heat (long-wave radiation).
- This heat is trapped by The gases responsible for global warming - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). (eg methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide), which radiate the heat back towards Earth.
- This process heats up the Earth.
Human factors increasing global warming
Some human activities increase the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere:
- Burning fossil fuels, eg coal, gas and oil - these release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- Deforestation - trees absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. If they are cut down, there will be higher amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
- Dumping waste in landfill - when the waste decomposes it produces methane.
- Agriculture - agricultural practices lead to the release of nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere.
Natural factors increasing global warming
There are also natural factors which contribute to increased global warming:
- Orbital changes - the Earth has natural warming and cooling periods caused by A theory that describes the effects of the Earth's movements on its climate. or variations in the tilt and/or orbit of the Earth around the Sun (Wobble, roll and stretch theory).
- Volcanic activity - during a volcanic eruption carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
- Solar output - there can be fluctuations in the amount of radiation from the sun. If there is a high amount emitted there will be an increase in Earth's temperatures.