This article is the second of five in a series to understand the basic science of climate change. In this article, we will explore the causes of climate change. Following Donald Trump’s reelection, which banned the term “climate” in many federal sites and government reports, this article reminds us that science is obscured by ideology.
Despite the small number of voices Climate deniersthere is no reasonable doubt that the climate is changing and that changes are the result of human activity. However, climate science is complicated and few adults have learned about it in school. Unless you understand climate change, make this an introduction to a basic understanding of climate science, as you would like. Welcome to Climate Change 101.
What is climate change?
As explained in the first article in this series, climate change is an environmental crisis caused by greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere by human industrial activities. The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has increased from about. 280 parts 1 million copies In the 1800s, today it was over 430 copies, which is still in its entirety. It will increase rapidly.
Climate change is an environmental crisis. This is because humans have evolved, society has grown into a long, cooler era in the history of the planet, and industrial emissions have risen to average global temperatures. Not nature, humans must change their behavior and restore the atmosphere to a state in which we have developed as a species. Our survival is at risk.
This increased concentration strengthened nature Greenhouse effect of the Earth’s atmosphere. It raises the global average surface temperature by 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius), causing a cascade of complex shifts into climate patterns. These disruptions lead to more frequent and extreme weather events, redistribution and destruction of wildlife populations, and many other harmful changes.
Greenhouse gas
There is Many greenhouse gases (GHG), methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gas, carbon dioxide, and even water vapor. Except for fluorinated gases (chlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons), these are humans, and any of these gases can occur naturally or be produced by human activity.
Each gas has a different capacity (called heat) Possibility of global warming) and different life expectancy in the atmosphere. Between GHGS, water vapor Most common in volume Fluorinated gas is The most powerfulthe possibility of global warming has been measured in thousands. but, carbon dioxide Most importantly for climate change is that it adds a lot to the atmosphere. And once released, it remains in the atmosphere for a very long time, for up to 1,000 years.
Natural causes of climate change
Baseline amounts of carbon dioxide are produced Natural Process Like ocean air exchange. Soil, plants, and animal respiration; and decomposition. Like all natural systems, the atmosphere is variable. The concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere fluctuates naturally.
Using Ice Core samples, scientists can measure Historical focus of CO2 in the air. For the past 400,000 years, natural variation in atmospheric CO2 levels has been between 200 and 280 copies. Regularly repeated factors such as seasons, ocean cycles, and solar Schwabe cycles create some of the variations. Volcanic eruptions and large irregular appearances Forest fires It can also contribute to variations.
However, all of these sources do not account for the changes documented in the last century.
Artificial greenhouse gases
Climate change is Artificial. Artificial is a big word that simply means “provoked by people.” Humans have Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide It has been at 45% since the beginning of the industrial era. Half of that increase has occurred since 1980 and a quarter since 2000. Methane concentrations increased 2.5 times over the same period, with most increases since 1980 occurring.
Combining natural cycles with rare natural events does not mean that. However, these figures are consistent with post-industrial emission levels. In 1950, atmospheric CO2 levels reached their highest point at 800,000 years, and have since increased exponentially.
However, this circumstantial evidence is not the only reason to identify anthropogenic causes of climate change. According to NASAThe carbon produced by combustion fossil fuels differ in the ratio of heavy carbon atoms, leaving a clear “fingerprint” that the instrument can measure. The measured reduction in atmospheric carbon-13 isotopes indicates that an increase in carbon dioxide levels is a result of fossil fuel burning.
We did this to ourselves.
Global causes of climate change
Globally, the top sources of greenhouse gas emissions are:
- Electricity and heat production (25%)
- Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Uses (24%)
- Industry (21%)
Over half Global GHG Emissions Generated in Asia China alone accounts for 31% of the total world. However, Asia houses 60% of the world’s population, and much of China’s industrial production is due to North American consumption. This will bring Asia’s per capita emissions slightly below the global average.
America’s Causes of Climate Change
Meanwhile, North Americans produce very high GHG per capita. US only 4.3% of the world’s populationproduces 15% of the world’s greenhouse gases. Furthermore, Asia has recently become a key contributor to climate change. The US releases more total CO2 than any other country. The US has released approximately 400 billion tons in total, responsible for 25% of its historic emissions.
The use of fossil fuels in the United States follows a slightly different pattern than in other parts of the world. Using 2018 data, EPA estimates Total US GHG emissions By the economic sector. Their estimates show that 28% of US power GHG lasts for nearly two seconds at 27%. Greenhouse gas emissions from transport come from overwhelmingly 90% – from burning gasoline and diesel fuel.
Fortunately, transportation is one area where most individuals can have a level of control and take steps to reduce their impact.
Most greenhouse gas emissions (approximately 63%) from electricity generated come from power plants that burn coal and natural gas. Individuals usually have less control over their power sources. However, there are several actions that individuals can take to supply their energy supply to the green and reduce their electricity use.
The third article in this series covers the consequences of climate change.
eDittle’s Notes: This article was originally published on May 11, 2020 and updated in May 2025.
