What is the fundamental cause of global warming?
The fundamental cause of global warming, known also as climate change, is carbon dioxide, or CO. CO is what is known as a “greenhouse gas”. Greenhouse gases absorb heat radiation from the sun and then traps it inside of the atmosphere. Historically, that is to say pre-Industrial Age, more radiant solar heat was reflected back into space, keeping the planet from overheating. CO is the main greenhouse gas component that enables this trapping of solar heat. CO content in the atmosphere is currently around 380 parts per million, or ppm. That is more than a 1/3 increase over atmospheric CO 1000 years ago. And according to the IPCC, atmospheric CO levels could increase to as much as 500 ppm by the year 2100. The implications if that happens are catastrophic. Q: What are we doing that causes climate change? What is causing this damaging build-up of CO in the atmosphere? Two words: fossil fuels. These fuels are derived from crude oil and are also known as hydrocarbons. Burning hydrocarbons rel
