As our world heats up, the layout of the land and the level of the sea change at a pace that has never been seen. Although global climate change is happening the extent of human influence on climate change is a controversial topic. Experts constantly argue about the effect humans have on the complex system that has existed on earth since its creation. Global climate change is the rise in the average global temperature on the Earth's surface. The main cause of increased heat is higher levels of greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere (EPA, 2013). This investigation will examine the causes of global climate change, the predicted levels of global climate change, and analyze whether or not humans do impact global climate change.
There are many natural causes of global climate change. However, the most relevant to the spikes of global climate change could be attributed to increased volcanic activity and the changes in solar radiation (Canadian Government, 2013). Though these changes may not seem apparent to society, over time the changes build and can lead to radical differences in the long term. For example, ash that is spewed from an active volcano can reach up into the atmosphere and reflect solar radiation, essentially dimming the sun. Along with the ash comes carbon dioxide. The large amount of carbon dioxide that is coming out of volcanoes can affect local climate. Globally the carbon dioxide emitted by volcanoes is 200 million tons annually (USGS, 2007). Furthermore the changes in solar radiation will result in more radiation hitting the earth and heating it up. These are the most prominent natural causes but nowhere near the effect greenhouse gases has on the climate.
The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring phenomenon and is the reason why life can exist on earth. Simply put the gases that make up the atmosphere absorb the heat that is reflected off the earth. By doing so the atmosphere warms the surface of the earth.