Causes of climate change:
Global warming
Global warming is basically the increase in greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases include:
- carbon dioxide (CO2)
- methane
- nitrous oxide
- fluorinated gases
Greenhouse gases absorb some of the sun's rays, because they are reflected back. By doing this, these gases help in many life forming processes. But because of many human activities, like burning of fossil fuels etc., the amount of greenhouse gases is increasing beyond the normal level. So, these gases are absorbing more and more heat. This is increasing the temperature of the Earth. This phenomena is known as global warming. Because of more than average temperature, normal climate and weather patterns are affected.
Ozone layer depletion
Ozone layer depletion is basically the depletion of ozone layer, due to human activities. Ozone layer is a layer of ozone gas. It protects us from the harmful UV rays of Sun. The most important gas contributing in this depletion of ozone layer is Chlorofluorocarbon, which is released from our refrigerators and air conditioners. Because of this depletion of ozone layer, UV rays can enter the Earth's atmosphere and cause many diseases, more specifically, cancer and other skin disorders.
Natural and anthropogenic
In the history of Earth, climate has changed many times. But they were mainly natural causes like Earth's tilt towards the Sun, energy release from Sun, natural cooling and warming of oceans etc. These factors are still applicable today, but today's climate change is mainly anthropogenic. Anthropogenic causes include the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, aerosol release, land alterations etc. Anthropogenic causes of climate change have accelerated really quickly after the industrial revolution.
