Vegetation also influences greenhouse gas concentrations; living plants constitute an important sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide, whereas they act as sources of carbon dioxide when they are burned by wildfires or undergo decomposition. Carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapour are the most important greenhouse gases, and they have a profound effect on the energy budget of the Earth system despite making up only a fraction of all atmospheric gases. These changes include changes within the sun and changes in Earth’s orbit. Therefore, climate, which results from the physical properties and motion of the atmosphere, varies at every conceivable timescale. It is much easier to document the evidence of climate variability and past climate change than it is to determine their underlying mechanisms. 3. Climatic changes of the past 200–300 years, especially since the early 1900s, are documented by instrumental records and other archives. Climate is influenced by a multitude of factors that operate at timescales ranging from hours to hundreds of millions of years. Vegetation also influences greenhouse gas concentrations; living plants constitute an important sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide, whereas they act as sources of carbon dioxide when they are burned by wildfires or undergo decomposition. Volcanic activity can influence climate in a number of ways at different timescales. Temperature rise is accelerated or tempered by climate feedbacks, such as loss of sunlight-reflecting snow and ice cover, increased water vapour (a greenhouse gas itself), and changes to land and ocean carbon sinks. The gases released into the atmosphere during this process act like an invisible ‘blanket’, trapping heat from the … However, these phrases are not exact synonyms. The causes of climate change can be divided into two categories, human and natural causes. The nature of the evidence for climate change is explained, as are the principal mechanisms that have caused climate change throughout the history of Earth. The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is subject to variation even without human intervention. Climatic changes of the past 200–300 years, especially since the early 1900s, are documented by instrumental records and other archives. Extreme weather events can compound many of these health threats. A small change in the output of the sun’s energy can influence climate change. Climate data from volcanic events indicate that just one large eruption is enough to cause global cooling of around 0.3°C and between 1 and 2 years. Orbital variation is now recognized as an important driver of climatic variation throughout Earth’s history (see below Orbital [Milankovitch] variations). In general, the greater the tilt, the greater the solar radiation received by hemispheres in summer and the less received in winter. Take this quiz to test your knowledge. Orbital variations play major roles in pacing glacial-interglacial and monsoonal patterns. The atmosphere is a dynamic fluid that is continually in motion. For a detailed description of the development of Earth’s atmosphere, see the article atmosphere, evolution of. Videos. Rising sea level, reduced ice cover, thawing of permafrost, loss of marine habitat, changing ecosystems. Climate change: A Summary of the Science. Fingerprinting is a powerful way of studying the causes of climate change. Still others involve interactions between the atmosphere and other components of the Earth system and are … At the same time, the transfer of water molecules from soil to the atmosphere is mediated by vegetation, both directly (from transpiration through plant stomata) and indirectly (from shading and temperature influences on direct evaporation from soil). The main causes of climate change are: Humanity’s increased use of fossil fuels – such as coal, oil and gas to generate electricity, run cars and other forms of transport, and power manufacturing and industry Deforestation – because living trees absorb and store carbon dioxide Climate change is a phrase that is often used interchangeably with the phrases global warming or the greenhouse effect. Your actions as an informed consumer have great power, and consumer-driven change is already happening. Because different components of the Earth system change at different rates and are relevant at different timescales, Earth system history is a diverse and complex science. It is caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, mainly from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestationand farming. Tidal power is a form of renewable energy in which tidal action in the oceans is converted to electric power. These orbital variations cause changes in the latitudinal and seasonal distribution of solar radiation, which in turn drive a number of climate variations. Variations in carbon dioxide release by volcanoes and ocean rifts over millions of years can alter the chemistry of the atmosphere. The most well-known and the most important greenhouse gas is CO2. For example, the chemical weathering of the rising Tibetan Plateau may have played an important role in depleting the atmosphere of carbon dioxide during a global cooling period in the late Cenozoic Era. For example, the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau during the Cenozoic Era affected atmospheric circulation patterns, creating the South Asian monsoon and influencing climate over much of the rest of Asia and neighbouring regions. Sir Paul Nurse on 'Climate Change: Evidence & Causes' Professor Eric Wolff - 'Past climate - future climate' Continuing the Conversation on Climate Change (A carbon sink is any process that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by the chemical conversion of CO2 to organic or inorganic carbon compounds.) Climate change is a term that refers to major changes in temperature, rainfall, snow, or wind patterns lasting for decades or longer. A more specific definition would state that climate is the mean state and variability of these features over some extended time period. In a very real sense, climate variation is a redundant expression—climate is always varying. While we have experienced environmental challenges, 50 years of progress has shown us what we can do when we pull together. And as weather varies from day to day, so too does climate vary, from daily day-and-night cycles up to periods of geologic time hundreds of millions of years long. 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