Causes of Climate Change

Climate Change

Our planet is unique in its ability to support life. However, within the limitations of our understanding of the terms evolution and progress, we humans have contributed to a number of disastrous climate change triggers. Some of them are:

• Increased carbon dioxide emissions.
• Increase in greenhouse gas levels.
• Increase in land, water and air pollution levels.

Climate change refers to a long-term change in the average weather patterns over a specific region, over a significant period of time. The abnormal variations cause subsequent effects on the Earth's atmosphere and significant regions like the polar ice caps and the natural habitat of different life forms. The various causes of climate change are identified and measured with the help of environmental policies that keep periodical track of environmental damage and the shift in any or all of the dynamic Earth processes. The triggers are all interrelated human activities as well as external factors, and collectively take a toll on 'climate forcing'. In climate science, climate forcing relates to the change in net irradiance, calculated at tropopause.

Causes of Climate Change

The effect of climate change on the planet and various life forms that inhabit it manifests over an extended period of time. The internal variability is recognized in the form of hysteresis. In this measure, the climate change recorded does not correlate or correspond to planned input. However, climate change is not only the cause of rapid deterioration of our environment, but is also irreversible. Some of the major causes of climate change are:

Solar variation
There are a number of variations in solar activity that have been observed through the study of sunspots and beryllium isotopes. The sun provides the Earth with heat energy, an integral part of our climate. Solar variation has triggered a phenomenon called global warming.

Orbital variation
The elliptical path taken by the Earth around the sun plays a significant role in the distribution and amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface. These Milankovitch cycles have a direct impact on glacial activity. The eccentricity, precession and axial tilt of the Earth, along the elliptical path, creates changes in seasons.

Plate tectonics
The landmass on the planet is made up of plate tectonics that shift, rub against one another and even drift apart. This results in the repositioning of continents, wear and tear of the mountains, large-scale carbon storage and increased glaciation.

Volcanic action
In the course of volcanism, material from the Earth's core and mantle is brought to the surface, as a result of the heat and pressure generated within. Phenomenon like volcanic eruptions and geysers release particulates into the Earth's atmosphere, that affect climate.

Thermohaline circulation
Climate changes also result from the atmosphere-ocean relationship. Climate fluctuations such as the El Niño Southern oscillation and the Arctic oscillation act as heat reservoirs within the oceans. Thermohaline circulation refers to the redistribution of heat via slow and deep oceanic currents.

Human influences
There are a number of anthropogenic factors that are responsible for change in the Earth's environment. The result of human influence on the climate is not only direct, but also unambiguous. Increase in carbon dioxide levels arising from fossil fuel combustion, release of aerosols or particulate matter, extensive land use and deforestation have resulted in severe climatic change.

Factors known as 'feedbacks' either amplify or reduce the effect of climate change on human life. These feedbacks comprise a number of interconnected processes that trigger a shift in related or subsequent changes in the Earth's climate. Among the most significant indicators of climate change on the planet are glaciers, vegetation, permafrost regions, fossil palynomorphs and global average sea levels.