what are the natural causes of global warming?

Answer 1

Natural causes are dwarfed currently by man-made causes.

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.
(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.

By the way, EVERY volcanic eruption, like pinatubo or tambora actually COOLS the earth, it does not heat it. And there is no reconizable increase in volcanism in the recent past.

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 expected effects of global warming are many and various, both for the environment and for human life. These effects include sea level rise, repercussions to agriculture, reductions in the ozone layer, increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, and the spread of disease. In some cases, the effects may already be manifest, although it is difficult to attribute specific incidents of natural phenomena to long-term global warming. Since the mid-1970s, the total power of hurricanes has increased markedly because they have been more intense and have lasted longer; in addition, there has been a high correlation of hurricane power with tropical sea-surface temperature[35][1]. In spite of such strong evidence, the relationship between global warming and hurricanes is still being debated. [36][37] A draft statement by the World Meteorological Organization acknowledges the differing viewpoints on this issue [38].

The extent and probability of these consequences is a matter of considerable uncertainty. A summary of probable effects and recent understanding can be found in the report of the IPCC Working Group II [39]. Some scientists have concluded global warming is already causing death and disease across the world through flooding, environmental destruction, heat waves and other extreme weather events. (Reuters, February 9, 2006; archived)

You could get more information from the link below...

Answer 3

If by "natural" you mean outside of human causes, there are many causes of global warming.

Earth has an eccentric orbit, so as the orbit changes, so do the inputs and outputs of solar radiation. Tidal forces also slightly change the shape of the earth and hence the earths magnetosphere, which shields the earth from solar radiation.

If you want to restrict it to greenhouse warming (outside of human contribution), the main contributions to greenhouse warming are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and flurinated gases. The main culprit of today's rise in warming is carbon dioxide, however there is more happening to cause this rise than just the burning of fossil fuels. As I mentioned the earths magnetosphere shields the earth from radiation. The earths magnetosphere fluctuates, and sometimes switches polarity. Not only does the magnetosphere fluctuate, but we have evidence that it's over all magnitude has been decreasing. The earths magnetosphere is important, not in just how much raw energy we are shielded from, but how much carbon dioxide is produced naturally in the upper atmosphere. When radiation bombards neutrons out of nuclei in the upper atmosphere, they collide with ordinary nitrogen molecules, forming an isotope of carbon, Carbon-14. This combines the same way with Oxygen to form carbon dioxide. Less of a magnetosphere to shield of from radiation means more radiation is bombarding us. It should also be noted that the most abudant contributer to greenhouse warming, is water vapor. (www.ndc.noaa.gov) Water also neutralizes or absorbs carbon dioxide.

I do wish to say that I disagree that natural causes are dwarfed by human made causes. If that were so, conditions would never have been present for Earth to support life. However, it is largely human activities that has presented the sharp increase in warming since the 1900's.

Answer 4

Global warming is caused by the greenhouse effect. This is caused by greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere which trap heat energy from escaping thus causing an increase in temperature.

We are suffering global warming because we are increasingly burning things (like fuel) which releases carbon dioxide (CO2) which is a greenhouse gas. However, there are also other gases responsible like Methane (CH4) and Ozone (O3). However, carbon dioxide is the one we are releasing the most of.

Many people (especially in North America) refute climate change, but the evidence is very obvious. There is more carbon dioxide in our atmosphere than there has ever been for at least the last few thousands of years; and at the same time our world is heating up at a faster rate than it ever has. Coincidence??

So to prevent this we must cut our emissions of greenhouse gases; but that is a whole other story...

Answer 5

The most important one, despite the hype in the media: underwater volcanic activity

The earth's core is molten and the heat stored there did not come from sunlight striking the earth. Any global warming caused by carbon dioxide is insignificant compared to the amount contributed due the heat of the earth's core but you would never know it based on the people trying to sell their books.

Don't forget that in the mid 1970's, the media was hyping global winter where the earth was going to go into another ice age.

Answer 6

Hot air from scientists trying to sell books to justify their government grants. Ask St. Louis about global warming, this week.

Answer 7

Scarlett Johanson

Answer 8

the methane created by cows farting. Apparently there is a team investigating the DNA to track down the 'farting gene' so that cows can be ginetically modified to stop needing to fart and therefore save the planet.

Answer 9

Hi. The most catastrophic event is when frozen methane, which can accumulate in enormous quantities in the deep ocean , gets released suddenly. : http://armageddononline.tripod.com/methane.htm

Answer 10

You mean there are unnatural causes as well?