Letcher (2025) Causes of climate change

Identification

• Journal: Elsevier eBooks
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-11-29
• Authors: Trevor M. Letcher
• DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-443-32838-1.00002-3

Research Groups

• School of Chemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Short Summary

This chapter reviews the primary causes of climate change, focusing on the evidence establishing carbon dioxide as the main driver of global warming, while also discussing other natural and anthropogenic factors.

Objective

• To review the evidence identifying carbon dioxide as the primary cause of global warming and to explore other natural and human-induced factors contributing to climate change.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Global
• Temporal Scale: Historical to present (examining established causes and ongoing changes)

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not explicitly stated; the chapter synthesizes existing scientific understanding.
• Data sources: Synthesis of existing scientific literature and evidence.

Main Results

• The chapter firmly establishes that the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is the main cause of global warming.
• It details various natural causes of climate change, including volcanic eruptions, Earth's orbital changes, and solar variations.
• It identifies key human activities contributing to climate change, such as increased levels of CO2, SO2, CH4, and H2O vapor, as well as changes to jet streams and ocean currents.
• The role of molecular vibrations in the greenhouse effect is highlighted as fundamental to understanding global warming.

Contributions

• Provides a comprehensive synthesis of the established causes of climate change, particularly emphasizing the evidence for CO2 as the primary driver.
• Serves as a foundational overview for understanding climate change indicators, setting the stage for subsequent chapters in the book.
• Consolidates current scientific understanding on both natural and anthropogenic factors influencing Earth's climate.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Letcher2025Causes,
  author = {Letcher, Trevor M.},
  title = {Causes of climate change},
  journal = {Elsevier eBooks},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/b978-0-443-32838-1.00002-3},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-443-32838-1.00002-3}
}