What are the causes of increase in temperature of the world?
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Causes of Increase in Global Temperature
Greenhouse Gases and Anthropogenic Activities
The primary driver of the increase in global temperatures is the rise in greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides, due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes1 2 6 7. These gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect that leads to global warming. Since the mid-19th century, human activities have significantly increased the concentration of these gases, resulting in a notable rise in average global temperatures8.
Natural Variability and Volcanic Activity
Natural factors also contribute to temperature fluctuations. Variations in solar irradiance and volcanic aerosols have been identified as significant natural causes of temperature changes. Volcanic eruptions can inject large quantities of aerosols into the stratosphere, reflecting sunlight and temporarily cooling the Earth's surface1 2. However, these natural factors alone cannot account for the sustained increase in global temperatures observed over the past century, indicating a dominant role of anthropogenic influences2 4.
Differential Changes in Daily Temperatures
The narrowing of the diurnal temperature range (DTR), which is the difference between daily maximum and minimum temperatures, has also been linked to global warming. This phenomenon is partly due to increased cloudiness and atmospheric aerosol loading, which affect the Earth's radiation balance3. The DTR has been decreasing in most parts of the world, contributing to the overall rise in mean surface temperatures3.
Oceanic Heat Uptake and Energy Imbalance
The Earth's oceans play a crucial role in modulating global temperatures by absorbing excess heat. More than 90% of the heat from global warming is stored in the oceans, leading to thermal expansion and sea level rise5. Changes in surface winds and oceanic currents, such as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), also influence the distribution of heat within the ocean, affecting surface temperature trends5.
Regional Variations and Aerosol Effects
Regional studies have shown that the warming effects of greenhouse gases are detectable across various land areas, including North America and Europe. However, the cooling effects of sulfate aerosols, which reflect sunlight, can partially offset this warming in some regions4. In Asia, the presence of black carbon, a component of soot, has been linked to reduced aerosol cooling and enhanced warming4.
Long-term Climate Change Projections
Projections indicate that if the current trend of increasing greenhouse gas emissions continues, global temperatures could rise by 0.6 to 4°C by 20507. This warming is expected to have widespread impacts, including the reduction of glaciers and ice, shifts in species distributions, and more frequent extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and forest fires7 8.
Conclusion
The increase in global temperatures is primarily driven by anthropogenic activities that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. While natural factors like volcanic activity and solar variability contribute to short-term fluctuations, the long-term trend of rising temperatures is largely due to human influence. The narrowing of the diurnal temperature range, oceanic heat uptake, and regional variations in aerosol effects further complicate the global warming scenario. Addressing this issue requires a concerted effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to renewable energy sources.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Climate Impact of Increasing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide is likely to cause global warming, droughts, sea level rise, and the opening of the Northwest Passage in the 21st century.
Highly CitedCauses of twentieth-century temperature change near the Earth's surface
Solar forcing and anthropogenic causes contributed to early-century temperature changes, while mainly anthropogenic components were responsible for the warming from 1946 to 1996.
Highly CitedMaximum and Minimum Temperature Trends for the Globe
The diurnal temperature range (DTR) is continuing to decrease globally, with urban effects on global temperatures being negligible and circulation variations in the Northern Hemisphere contributing to the decrease.
Highly CitedAttribution of regional‐scale temperature changes to anthropogenic and natural causes
Increasing greenhouse gas concentrations warm regions, while sulfate aerosols counteract warming, with some warming from black carbon in Asia.
Highly CitedAn apparent hiatus in global warming?
Global warming has not stopped; it is merely manifested in different ways, with sea-level rise being more relentless.
Highly CitedCauses of Global Warming and Different Solutions
Alternative energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and bio mass, are crucial for combating global warming and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Global climate change
Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global climate change, leading to increased sea levels, droughts, and other extreme weather events, causing loss of biodiversity and ecosystem damage.
Global Warming and Its Health Impact
Rising temperatures lead to soil degradation, ecosystem degradation, and increased human health risks, particularly through increased infectious diseases and increased vector-borne diseases.
Highly CitedStatistical inquiry into the causes of global temperature changes
Industrial growth and greenhouse gas emissions contribute to a persistent increase in global temperatures, negatively impacting agricultural productivity.
Symptoms and Driving Factors of Contemporary Earth Warming and Projections for the Future
Contemporary global warming has led to increased temperatures, sea level rise, and a shift in precipitation patterns, with high latitudes experiencing more warming and maximum temperatures increasing more than average temperatures.
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