Causes of Climate Change

 

Causes of Climate Change

There are natural factors and anthropogenic factors that have contributed to climate change. It has led to drastic alterations in weather patterns. The natural factors include continental drifts, plate tectonics, the eruption of volcanoes etc. Below we have mentioned all the causes of Climate Change-

Natural Factors

Natural factors are the natural events that occur in the environment. Man has no control over these occurrences. These can include the following:

• Continental Drifts: The movement of the tectonic plates has been taking place for millions of years. The movement of these plates leads to changes in the physical features of the landmass and the placement of the water bodies on the earth’s surface. This leads to a change in the weather patterns, which over the years contributes to climate change.
• Plate Tectonics: The constant change in temperature of the core of the Earth’s surface causes plate repositioning. This affects the local temperature of the environment and other codependent environmental factors, which in turn lead to climate change.
• Eruption of Volcano: An eruption of a volcano lasts for a very short period of time, but its after-effects are persistent for years. When lava erupts out of a volcano, a large amount of carbon dioxide, dust particles, aerosol droplets, and other greenhouse gases enter the earth’s atmosphere. When excreted in large concentrations, these gases can warm up the earth’s atmospheric layers and contribute to global warming. Hence, causing climate change.
• Ocean Currents: The movement of winds in the horizontal direction contradicts the natural flow of ocean currents. Hence, causes temperature variation, which in turn leads to a

• change in the climate of the particular geographical area. This contributes to climate change as well.

Anthropogenic Factors

Anthropogenic factors are influenced by human actions and deeds. The anthropogenic factors include the following:

• Greenhouse Gases: The gases that absorb heat radiation from the sun and result in an increase in the temperature of the Earth’s surface are called greenhouse gases. These include carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, water vapors, methane, and nitrous oxide. Due to industrialization, deforestation, and urbanization, the levels of concentrations of these gases are increasing in the atmosphere day by day, hence contributing to global warming.
• Aerosols: Aerosols are extremely tiny liquid particles suspended in the earth’s atmosphere. Their presence can be caused by a variety of activities such as coal burning, burning of plants grown with ammonia-containing fertilizers, biomass burning, and other industrial processes. They scatter and absorb solar radiation as well as infrared radiation, causing a change in the temperature of atmospheric layers. They also affect the physical and chemical composition of clouds, including cloud formation. Hence, it has an indirect impact on the climate.
• Land use pattern: Extensive usage of land for industrial purposes leads to deforestation, and changes in agricultural patterns lead to increased levels of greenhouse gases. Losing trees means losing the capability of cooling the environment, which is equivalent to increased carbon dioxide levels.