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Climate Change : The Greenhouse Effect

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Since the beginning of the Earth’s existence, climate change has occurred. Temperatures, sea levels, quantities of gases in the atmosphere, and levels of precipitation have risen and fallen over a span of billions of years. However, over the last two centuries, climate change has been far too drastic to be caused by natural forces alone. Globally, the alterations in temperatures, sea levels, precipitation, melting of ice caps and glaciers, and violence of natural disasters are clearly caused by another factor, in addition to natural climate drivers. Acknowledging the fact that climate change is indeed occurring, the blame for this change must be placed somewhere. Combined with natural causes, it is evident that the activities of human beings are a significant cause of global climate change.
To begin with, it is important to discuss the common causes of climate change. The most prominent and well-known cause is what is known as the “Greenhouse Effect.” The effect is the result of various gases becoming trapped within the Earth’s atmosphere, which alters the reflection and absorption of sunlight. As the levels of the gases increase in the atmosphere, more sunlight is absorbed, causing warming of the Earth. These “greenhouse gases” include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and “F-gases.”
Carbon dioxide is a gas produced naturally by decomposition, ocean release, and respiration. However, too much carbon dioxide is being mass-produced by the burning of fossil fuels, such

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