FACTORS AFFECTING CLIMATE CHANGE

Written Report

1. The Sun - provides the primary source of energy driving Earth’s climate system, but its
variations have played very little role in the climate changes observed in recent
decades. There are four factors:

 SOLAR ACTIVITY - Variations in solar output historically have been attributed

to be the main cause of climate change. Amount of solar radiation varies
with irregular fluctuations.
 MOVEMENTS OF EARTH IN SPACE - Earth orbits around the Sun every 365
days. Earth rotates on its axis every 24 hours. Earth is tilted at an angle of
23.5. All of these factors produce the seasons.
 ROTATION, ORBIT AND TILT - Eccentricity: due to gravitational attraction of
other planets, Earth’s orbit fluctuates slightly from circular to elliptical (cycle
of 100000 years).
Tilt: angle of tilt varies by 2.4 every 41 000 years- greater the angle = greater
the difference between winter & summer.
Wobble: Earth is not a perfect sphere, so it wobbles slightly as it rotates on
its axis. – affects amount and intensity of solar energy received at different
parts of the year.
 LATITUDE - At the equator, rays strike directly perpendicular to surface. Sun’s
rays strike the Earth at different angles due to its curved shape.

2. The Atmosphere and Wind - As winds move across the surface of water, energy is
transferred to the water, causing water to move. Movement of water results in transfer
of heat around Earth’s surface.

3. The Hydrosphere - Oceans hold much more heat than the atmosphere – act as a
heat reservoir. A lot of energy is required to change the temperature of water by even
one degree Celsius temperature of large bodies of water changes slowly and by small
amounts.

4. The Moving Continents - Volcanoes are located at boundaries of tectonic plates

when volcanoes erupt, ash and other particles are spewed into the atmosphere.
Particles reflect solar radiation and cool the climate.

5. Human Activities - Human activities contribute to climate change by causing changes

in Earth’s atmosphere in the amounts of greenhouse gases, aerosols (small particles),
and cloudiness. The largest known contribution comes from the burning of fossil fuels,
which releases carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere.