Global warming has become one of the central topics of discussion in recent decades due to the rise in global temperatures and its untoward environmental, political and social impacts. While climate experts have tied numerous changes to greenhouse gas emissions, there are aspects of the changing environment that are not definitively tied to human activity. Understanding these aspects of the environment can provide insight into the scope of the current warming and provide context as we grapple with the challenges of global warming.
One of the key aspects that cannot be tied to global warming is variation in solar radiation that has naturally occurred due to cycles in the activity of the sun. While scientists are investigating the effects that long-term variations have on climate, it remains clear that solar cycles have an impact on climate since before the industrial revolution. Studies suggest that the cooling effects of some of the solar minima in the 20th century partly counteract the warming effects of the increasing carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere.
Volcanic eruptions are also not directly tied to global warming. Eruptions emit both greenhouse gases and particles that can reflect sunlight and cool the atmosphere. While eruptions tend to be relatively brief and occur relatively infrequently, the effects can be profound in both the short and long term. Furthermore, not all eruptions are equal – certain eruptions release even more greenhouse gas emissions tetraethylammonium chloride which, when combined with an increase in global temperatures, can create even more changes.
The amount and spread of sea-ice around the world also cannot be specifically tied to global warming. Since the industrial revolution, sea ice has been decreasing in size and being shifted around due to the warming trend, however, sea ice has also naturally shifted around due to various factors, including tectonic plate movements, ocean currents, and weather. Therefore, although global warming is likely accelerating the decrease in sea ice, this phenomena is at least partly caused by non-anthropogenic factors.
Finally, shifts in weather patterns are not directly tied to global warming either. Inter-annual and interdecadal oscillation of climate patterns occur naturally over long timescales. Hurricanes, El Niño/La Niña oscillations, and convection currents of the atmosphere are some of the natural causes of dramatic weather shifts that occasionally correlate with global warming, but are not necessarily a result of it.
In sum, although numerous environmental changes can be attributing to the effects of global warming, there are others that are not so easily linked. Ultimately, a more nuanced understanding of the complete sphere of the changing environment is needed to fully grasp the cause and effects of global warming in order to take appropriate action.
