Global warming refers to the increase in temperature of Earth. This increase has been between 0.3º C and 0.8º C over the 20th century. The chief cause of global warming is the phenomenon ‘green house effect’ in which certain atmospheric gases are transparent to incoming short-wave solar radiation but are opaque to outgoing long-wave terrestrial radiation consequently leading to rise in Earth’s temperature. These gases are known as green house gases, that include carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapour (H2O)methane (CH4), chloroflurocarbons (CFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), nitrous oxide (N2O) and trophospheric ozone (O3). Owing to continued addition of these gases in the atmosphere the danger of climate change has increased.

Carbon dioxide is largely responsible for climate change. However other GHG gases including methane, ozone NOx, SOx also contribute. An interplay of land mismanagement and natural resources misuse also contribute to the phenomenon.

I think we must not ignore the natural forcing.

The work of climatologists have found evidences to suggest that only a limited number of factors are primarily responsible for most of the past episodes of climate change on the Earth. These factors include:

• Variations in the Earth's orbital characteristics
• Atmospheric carbon dioxide variations
• Volcanic eruptions
• Variations in solar output
• Plate tectonics

This question has been the subject of several posts on ResearchGate. Here are some links that may help you. But, there are others you can find by researching ResearchGate questions.

Regards https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_do_you_know_about_Global_Warming_what_are_there_causes_And_can_we_prevent_it_and_how

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Methane_gas_and_global_warming

https://www.researchgate.net/post/NASA_tracks_emissions_of_methane_a_powerful_greenhouse_gas

https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_does_planting_forest_contribute_to_climate_change_mitigation?_ec=topicPostOverviewFollowedQuestions&_sg=WTgraLBPKiYIUzLCVLJUfiuSepYSl5h_s2-hNggiW48rn7mIk--H5XCfsjnl9CFTFkxlHoTwyuJx1m9x

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Could_airborne_microplastics_play_a_role_in_climate_change

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Global_Warming_Part_1_Causes_and_consequences_of_global_warming_a_natural_phenomenon_a_political_issue_or_a_scientific_debate

Scientists are as certain of the link between greenhouse gases and global warming. One of the biggest reasons by far is our burning of fossil fuels (coal, gas and oil ) which has increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. This, coupled with other activities like clearing land for agriculture, is causing the average temperature of our planet to increase.

Saja Mohsen Sura Jasem Mohammed

CO2 is probably only one-third of the answer...with methane being another third, and barren desert soils plus airborne dust being the last third.

METHANE has a 25X ability to trap heat than CO2, and from https://www.globalmethane.org/documents/analysis_fs_en.pdf --you can see the sources estimated total in 2010 of 6.9 billion tons, and 29% coming from cow belching, and about 4% coming from their manure?

BARREN desert soils, and AIRBORNE dust--The barren desert soils absorb heat from the sun, when the grazing animals have removed the insulating layer of native plants. See https://www.earthstartsbeating.com/2019/08/29/land-surface-temperature/

Then, AIRBORNE DUST...comes off that barren land, and traps the heat that is radiating off the soil for a longer period. Pure clean air is actually an insulator, but airborne dust at only 40 micrograms per cubic meter, can trap heat and do things like change the dew point, so clouds cannot form, and also shade the land from the sun. Airborne dust is the most powerful weather-changing agent on the planet, about to destroy Category-5 cyclones, like you can see at https://www.ecoseeds.com/newGONU.html

The only ghg that has a significant effect on climate is water vapor. https://watervaporandwarming.blogspot.com

Global warming refers to the increase in temperature of Earth. This increase has been between 0.3º C and 0.8º C over the 20th century. The chief cause of global warming is the phenomenon ‘green house effect’ in which certain atmospheric gases are transparent to incoming short-wave solar radiation but are opaque to outgoing long-wave terrestrial radiation consequently leading to rise in Earth’s temperature. These gases are known as green house gases, that include carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapour (H2O)methane (CH4), chloroflurocarbons (CFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), nitrous oxide (N2O) and trophospheric ozone (O3). Owing to continued addition of these gases in the atmosphere the danger of climate change has increased.

The most common and most talked about greenhouse gases is CO2 or carbon dioxide. In fact, because it is so common, scientists use it as the benchmark or measure of things that warm the atmosphere.

Methane, another important GHG, for example, is 28-36 times as warming as CO2 when in the upper atmosphere (USEPA GWP – Global Warming Potential – estimate over 100 years), therefore, 1 ton of methane = 28-36 tons eCO2 or CO2 equivalents.

Many of you claim that CO2 is the dominant factor because there is a commen agreement between scintists about this. I don't trust this. There is an over whelming number of socalled scinetists who don't understand that electrifications when coal Power is the marginal Power leads to increased emission - although this is very simple mathematics/physics. (Just look at my memo: "Electrifications, carbon footprint and emissions."

But I think there is one effect happening today which shoulb be looked into: The effect of the reduction of the eraths magnietic Field through about 150 years. In the last about 150 years the magnetic Field is reduced by about 15 %. This increases the cosmic radiation on the erath, which in turn increases the temperature of the upper water layers => increased content of water vapour in the athmosphere, and hence the green house effect. Currently the water vapour is responsible for about 75 % of the green house effect. Lets hope this is not the case, because probably the reduction of the magnetic Field is the beginning of a switch of the poles of the Field. This normally lasts for a few thousand years - and it is not possible to stop it. So mankind has to be very patient to wait for this to end. And cosmic radiation will increase during the first half of this period. The last pole switch happened about 700 000 years ago, but there was a semi-switch about 40000 years ago - about at the time when humo sapiens develope - perhaps due to cosmic radiation ?

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that several greenhouse gases are responsible for warming, and humans emit them in a variety of ways. Most come from the combustion of fossil fuels in cars, buildings, factories, and power plants. The gas responsible for the most warming is carbon dioxide (CO2). Other contributors include methane released from landfills, natural gas and petroleum industries, and agriculture (especially from the digestive systems of grazing animals); nitrous oxide from fertilizers; gases used for refrigeration and industrial processes; and the loss of forests that would otherwise store CO2.

Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/global-warming-causes/

This graph shows TOA radiation flux intensity vs wavenumber as calculated by MODTRAN. This calculated radiation flux profile has been corroborated by satellite measurements. Superimposed on the graph are plots of black body radiation flux at specific temperatures. Black body radiation imposes an upper limit on radiation intensity at characteristic wavenumbers of each ghg.

Standard atmosphere tables show temperature vs altitude so the BB radiation curves are also altitude curves. The curves are very nearly equally spaced (the lapse rate) up to the tropopause. From this it is seen for example that all radiation emitted in the range 500-600/cm is from between the altitudes 2 – 6 km and that the outward directed radiation in this range makes it all the way to space.

Essentially all of this radiation comes from WV molecules. The result is energy absorbed by CO2 molecules at this altitude range is shared with surrounding molecules via gaseous conduction and much of the fraction radiated outward by WV molecules make it all the way to space. Effectively, radiation energy absorbed by CO2 is redirected to WV where it is radiated to space.

This process applies to all radiation absorbed by CO2 molecules up to the tropopause and accounts for the energy missing from below the tropopause in the wavenumber range 600-740/cm. Further explanation is at https://watervaporandwarming.blogspot.com

Please also see the following RG link.

Article Greenhouse Effect: Greenhouse Gases and Their Impact on Global Warming

Global warming is due to the increased burning of fossil fuels that include gasoline, diesel, kerosene and natural gas, as well as the petrochemicals (plastics, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers) we now make from oil. Burning of fossil fuels and the tiny particles produced by incomplete burning trap the sun’s energy in the atmosphere. Scientists call these gases “greenhouse gases” (GHGs) because they act like the wrong way reflective glass in our global greenhouse.

Global warming is due to limitless untreated release of manly Green house gases and to some extent wild fire and fossil fuel burning.

Attributing Global Warming to CO2 increase is a mistake. This attribution results from failure to recognize thermalization and the effect of the steep gradient in water vapor molecule population. WV declines from average about 10,000 ppmv at ground level to about 32 ppmv at the tropopause. Combined with the pressure decline with altitude, this amounts to a WV molecule population decline of 1200 to 1 which allows radiation from WV molecules at quite low altitudes to get all the way to space (see my posting above). Thermalization allows energy absorbed by CO2 molecules to be redirected to WV molecules which radiate the energy to space. This is further explained at https://watervaporandwarming.blogspot.com

The lack of influence of CO2 on climate is corroborated by multiple compelling evidence listed in Section 2 of http://globalclimatedrivers2.blogspot.com

the major culprit is CO2, 70% worming coming from the same gas. Other greenhouse gasses have a role but a lesser extent.

There is not a comon agreement about this. I it just not correct.

Climate has always changed; CO2 change has never caused it and never will.

Prior to Galileo, circa 1600, the scientific consensus was a geocentric universe.

Prior to Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier circa 1770 the scientific consensus was that combustion involved phlogiston.

Prior to Einstein, 1905, the scientific consensus was that mass and energy were unrelated.

Prior to Dr. Marshall and Dr. Warren in 1982 the scientific consensus was that peptic ulcers were caused by psychological stress and life style.

The current mistake of the scientific consensus is that CO2 increase causes global warming. Most peer reviewers are complicit with the scientific consensus.

The truth is that humanity has contributed about half of the warming as a result of water vapor increase from increasing irrigation. The rest is natural. https://watervaporandwarming.blogspot.com

Global warming is related with climate change that is an increase temperature of the earth. Climate change one the worlds agenda is the result of the loss of the earth green cover called green plants. Therefore, if the O2 decrease the negative output the human being stress is CO2. Human awareness and finding way of living standard can decrease the CO2 from our earth.

@Tesfu Abebe Tesema,

Apparently you have been misled about CO2. The increasing CO2 is making the planet greener. This article includes updates to a little more than a year ago: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/carbon-dioxide-fertilization-greening-earth

Concerning Global warming, without our atmospheric greenhouse, the earth would be very cold. Global warming, however, is the equivalent of a greenhouse with high-efficiency reflective glass installed the wrong way around.

Other gases, such as chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs—which have been banned in much of the world because they also degrade the ozone layer—have heat-trapping potential thousands of times greater than CO2. But because their emissions are much lower than CO2, none of these gases trap as much heat in the atmosphere as CO2 does.

The worst of all mistakes it is do not take in consideration the oxygen removed from atmosphere when you are burning fossil fuels of any kind. How can you focus only in the CO2? Remember, for every 1 ppm of CO2 increase in the atmosphere almost 2,2 ppm O2 decrease in the atmosphere concentration happens. Verify it!

The CO2 emissions must also consider the O2 depletion it is causing! I do that in all my papers related to those matters.

For Global warming mostly CO2 is responsible along with other greenhouse gases.

CO2 is just a imperfect accounting! Atmosphere oxygen depletion is the key vector for Climate Change due to Human activities!

Before attempting to understand climate change, it would be wise to at least identify what causes it. The shallow science applied by the consensus, which assumed CO2 as the cause, has failed. Humanity has caused about half of the warming since 1900 as a result of water vapor increase due to increasing irrigation. The rest of warming has been natural from SST cycles and solar grand maximum which has ended. CO2 has no effect on climate. https://watervaporandwarming.blogspot.com

Wildfire is generally a natural phenomenon.

There are so many reasons responsible for global warming. CO2 is one of the prime one of them.

Thanks, a lot, Dear Rechan Karmakar

The general state of the Earth's climate is a function of the amount of energy stored by the climate system. More specifically it can be stated that the Earth’s climate is regulated by the balance between the amount of energy the Earth receives from the Sun, in the form of light and ultraviolet radiation, and the amount of energy the Earth releases back to space, in the form of infrared heat energy. The basic causes of climate change involve any process that can alter this global energy balance. Scientists call this "climate forcing.” Climate forcing "forces" or induces the climate to change, although the acceleration or pace of the process is highly variable.

There are many climate forcing processes, but broadly speaking, they can be classified into internal and external types. External processes operate outside the planet Earth, and include changes in the global energy balance due to extraterrestrial factors like variations in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, and changes in the amount of energy received from the Sun. Internal processes operate from within the Earth's climate system, and include changes in the global energy balance due to changes in ocean circulation or changes in the composition of the atmosphere. Other climate forcing processes include the impacts of large volcanic eruptions, collisions with comets or meteorites etc. Luckily, the Earth is not hit by large comets or meteorites very often, perhaps every 20 to 30 million years or so, and therefore their associated climate changes occur rarely throughout Earth History. However, other causes of climate change influence the Earth on much shorter time scales, with changes sometimes occurring within a single generation. Indeed, our present oscillation of the composition of atmosphere due to emission of greenhouse gases may be causing the global climate to change with an increased trend of atmospheric temperature. This man-made climate change associated with increasing trend of atmospheric temperature is popularly known as global warming.

Thanks, Abhijit Mitra for your answer

My opinion is, global warming at the present magnitude is far more a human creation. It was very obvious during a few days the world has been shut down due to COVID-19, what a dramatic change in the environment could see in many countries. The entire world is exceeding its population bearing capacity. Many more devastations may come in the future.

Global warming is the rise of earth's temperature caused by increased concentration of green house gases, mainly carbon dioxide, in the air due to human activities such as automobile exhausts, burning fossil fuels, and deforestation. Global warming is happening mainly due to presence of too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which traps the heat and warms up the planet. There is no direct relationship between climate change and wildfire but there may be possibility of relationship between warm summer temperature and wildfires. Hot dry condition do not cause fire but ignition from any source starts the fire and then it spreads.

I think what needs to be included in this question--- Once the main causes of Global Warming are determined, where will the money come from to start correcting it?

I am suggesting that we stand down the MILITARY and use their BUDGETS to give everyone free solar panels for electricity, free manure digesters for dairy operations to produce methane for cooking, replanting arid lands with native plants to increase rainfall, cool the soil surface and eliminate dust storms, etc.

For example, compare the top Covid infected countries with the highest military budgets--where those budgets could be used to help the people with REAL National Security like their health care?--

#1 USA - 2.5 million cases and the Military Budget is world's #1 $732 BILLION.

#2 Brazil - 1.3 million cases and the Military Budget is #11 $27 Billion.

#3 Russia - 620,000 cases and Military Budget is #4 at $65 billion.

#4 India - 509,000 cases and Military Budget is #3 at $71 billion.

#5 UK - 309,000 cases and Military Budget is #8 at $49 billion, etc.

Those military budgets are low hanging fruit, that people in every country could pick and convert to better uses very quickly in the future? Example from Oman waterless desert or lush native vegetation with water--- we just need to start replanting now?

An example of how a single native grass plant... in the Mojave desert can cool the soil surface. Multiply that by about 50 trillion and you end up with a much cooler planet, lowering the maximum daytime temp. by 20-30 degrees F. in the summer?

Example from Oman, barren waterless desert across most of the Arabian Peninsula, or above the town of Salalah where the native vegetation has been preserved, cooling the area and producing water for life. That is one very easy cure for Global Warming, replant the local native grasses, wildflowers, trees and shrubs, and enjoy the results?

We should not forget that water vapour plays a major role in our climate and responsible for raising the temperature as well.

Too much evaporation from the warm seas is having a big impact besides making it uncomfortable and humid.

An independent corroboration of the importance of the increase of water vapor is obtained using average global water vapor (TPW) measurements and average global temperature measurements. This shows that WV has been increasing faster than POSSIBLE from feedback from temperature increase. The irony is that reducing the use of fossil fuels, which is agenda of many, will have no effect on climate.

https://watervaporandwarming.blogspot.com

Due to its contribution to global warming, CO2 can be considered the major contributor however, CO2 is the consequence, not the cause! it can be explained that the activities evolving the CO2 are the main contributors to global warming. it can be wildfires, space industry, transportation, and other industrial operations. Along with this, disturbance of natural cycles such as C-cyles and N-cyles also effects this.

Global warming is a natural process according to some researchers. But man made global warming is the point to be discussed here. There are so many reason for that like, fossil fuel burning, industrialization, deforestation etc. Bit the main reason is nothing but our greed.