Ask A Scientist© Environmental Science Archive

Author:      burbank school, vicki s maiden
What is the cause of global warming?

Response #:  1 of 1
Author:      mortis
There are many causes, not just one, and we may not know what all the causes 
are.  There are natural causes that we know very little about but we know they 
are there because geological evidence tells us that Earth's climate changes 
quite a lot - sometimes colder than today and sometimes warmer.  Some have 
suggested changes in the sun's output of radiation, or changes in the amount 
of dust in the atmosphere (from volcanoes or meteor impacts) as natural 
causes.  For about 100 years there has been concern that the burning of coal 
and oil in our industrial age might put enough carbon-dioxide and other gasses 
into the atmosphere to trap reflected sunlight and thus cause the atmosphere 
to heat upage Various means of controlling industrial (and agricultural) air 
pollution are being discussed by the world's governments.  Personally, I think 
that we could adapt to a changing climate by distributing food and shelter 
where it is needed.  I am encouraged by the expansion of global peace and 
global trade as evidence that humanity could cope with climate change no 
matter what the cause.