HUMAN ACTIVITIES AS THE MAIN CAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Abstract

In nature, everything is interconnected. Even a small change in one component leads to changes in many others. In this regard, it is obvious that as the temperature on the planet increases, we can observe other related changes.

Despite climate changes such as the change of seasons, changes in ocean currents, volcanic activity, solar radiation, other climate events, etc., the climate is quite stable by nature, that is, these changes occur with a certain regularity, winter always gives way to spring, and monsoons come at a certain season.

Thus, climate change is a significant and long-term change in the statistical distribution of weather conditions, which can occur over a period of decades to millions of years. This can be a change in normal weather conditions, for example, a change in the dates of the rainy season in the tropics, or a change in the frequency of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and storms. New dangerous infectious diseases and new pests appear where they have never been before. These and other consequences of climate change are dangerous for plants and animals, which are not able to quickly adapt to such drastic changes.

Fluctuations in the amount of sunlight and radiation called Milankovitch Cycles, are the most significant driver of climate change over the past thousands to millions of years. They were also the main cause of the last 4 cycles of glaciation and warming. However, over the past 150 years, the Earth's climate has changed significantly, and it is very important to understand what caused such dramatic changes in such a short period of time.

Let's consider what role the human activity has played in climate change over the past century.