The Earth is continuously affected by increasing temperatures, droughts, floods, and other extreme events as a result of global warming. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global average surface temperature has increased by 1.1°C since the industrial era began. This increase is due to a combination of different factors, including human activities, natural influences, and feedback loops. To better understand these influences and their significance, we must explore what mainly causes global warming.
One of the primary causes of global warming is the emission of carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor and other greenhouse gases. Through burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil, humans are emitting large quantities of these gases, resulting in the trapping of the Sun’s heat and an overall increase in global average temperature. Deforestation and agricultural activities have also had a major impact in this regard, as forests, which act as carbon sinks, are being cut down and replaced with land for crops and livestock.
Solar activity is another factor that triggers global warming, especially in the form of short-term climate variability on a decadal timescale. Sunspots, which are magnetic regions of high and low temperatures, have been shown to directly cause shifts in global average temperature, with some studies suggesting a correlation between sunspots and global climate anomalies. The Milankovitch cycle, which is a long-term orbital oscillation of the Earth, has also had a major impact on the surface temperature of the planet.
Anthropogenic influences, such as methane release from dams and landfills, landfills and industrial activity, have been largely thought to be drivers of global warming. While these activities are certainly not helping the situation, their contribution to global warming is relatively small compared to other sources, such as carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Additionally, ongoing urbanization and population growth have also been indicated as major drivers of global warming, with large cities and high human activity levels leading to higher air and ground temperatures.
Finally, natural influences, such as El Niño and La Niña, have been shown to affect global climate. These phenomena are characterized by the warming and cooling of surface waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean and linked to extreme global climate events, such as floods and droughts. Thus, El Niño and La Niña are important drivers of global warming.
In conclusion, global warming is caused by a variety of factors, both human and natural. By understanding what mainly causes global warming, communities and governments can better plan confronting solutions and actions to prevent global warming. Solutions such as lowering emissions, reforestation, and renewable energy sources can be utilized in order to mitigate global warming, but first a better understanding of the causes needs to be achieved to inform these solutions.
