what are the human causes of Global warming?

Answer 1

Pollution from CO2 and CH4.

CO2 is 30% higher than it has been for 650,000 years. Methane is 130% greater. These are two of the main pollutants humans put into the atmosphere in excess, and they are two of the primary greenhouse gases.

Look at the 'hockeystick', which shows a dramatic warming since 1950 after a fairly stable climate for 1000 years. In fact, the 10 hottest years in recorded history have all happened since 1990, with 2005 being the hottest, and 2006 is shaping up to maybe break that record.
(see links below)

How's that for proof of man's fault in this? There is ample proof, any real scientist will tell you that.

There has NEVER been an article doubting man's influence on global warming published in a peer-reviewed journal. A recent study of almost 1000 proved that.

Yes, the earth naturally heats and cools, but the rate and amount we are warming now is unprecedented in the recent geologic past. We are doing this, and we must stop it. This is not some political statement or rhetoric. This is science trying to educate a crass, ignorant public of the damage they are doing. The magnitude of temperature increase ALREADY is about 10x that of the 'little ice age' of the middle ages, and rate and amount are only going up.

Just to be clear, glacial and interglacial cycles are mainly controlled by astronomical fluctuations, but we have a detailed record of the last 7 cycles, and what the climate and CO2 is doing now is way different and extreme. The rate of increase is much higher than in the past AND the value itself is much higher.

HI CO2:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4467420.stm
HOCKEY STICK:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5109188.stm
General climate stuff:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3897061.stm

Answer 2

The most obvious cause is the greenhouse gas emissions caused by our industries, burning of fossil fuels, etc... Wikipedia that one for details.

We also burn down rainforests, which reduces the planet's capacity to reabsorb CO2 and turn it into oxygen. The same may hold for our pollution of the ocean; killing off photosynthetic plankton being akin to burning down forests. The ocean in general plays a huge role in the global ecosystem, it's quite fascinating.

We've actually been impacting the environment for quite some time now, not just since the dawn of industry. You've heard of the "Fertile Crescent" in the Middle East I take it? It's obviously not so fertile anymore. Well, apparently the civilizations to arrive there cut down the forests quicker than that low-rainfall environment could replenish them, which destroyed the ecosystem, and (loss of trees) contributed to global warming. Or so the theory goes.

There is no debate that we are the cause of SOME global warming; the question is "how much?" The Earth has gone though several cold (ice ages, esp. "snowball earth") and hot (see "Carboniferous" period) stages. The question is about measuring our impact.

Answer 3

I don't think its ever been proven that human activities have anything to do with global warming what so ever.

Humans were not a significant factor in the ending of the last ice age so it is unlikely their activities have anything to do with the current increase in average temperature.

Also only 1000 years ago Vikings were farming in Greenland. It is obvious at least in Greenland it was warmer 1000 years ago than it is now. That can not be explained by modern industrial activity which hadn't even started at the time.

You're being brainwashed.

Answer 4

I am not sure what you are getting at. Man-made causes, or in what way does the human body cause Global warming? Humans breath out carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas, and human effluent creates greenhouse gases as well. If the question refers to man-made causes, then the others have answered you already.

Answer 5

The alarmists would like you to believe everything we makes it worse.
Cars, trucks, power plants, air-conditioners, ad nauseum.
But we had global warming and an ice age before any of this was invented, how do they explain that?
One volcano can spew as much pollution in an hour as all the cars & trucks in the world do in 10 years.
What makes us so arrogant to believe that what we do has so much impact?

Answer 6

Pollution like from some cars we drive...

Carbon dioxide and other air pollution that is collecting in the atmosphere like a thickening blanket, trapping the sun's heat and causing the planet to warm up. Coal-burning power plants are the largest U.S. source of carbon dioxide pollution -- they produce 2.5 billion tons every year. Automobiles, the second largest source, create nearly 1.5 billion tons of CO2 annually.

Here's the good news: technologies exist today to make cars that run cleaner and burn less gas, modernize power plants and generate electricity from nonpolluting sources, and cut our electricity use through energy efficiency. The challenge is to be sure these solutions are put to use.

Answer 7

Pollution, do you know that there are 10 trillion tons of C02 dumped into the atmosphere each year? Shame isn't it?

Answer 8

TOO much carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Answer 9

Farts. The rest comes from machines.

Answer 10

Exhaust from cars, buildings, etc.