{"id":2964,"date":"2019-12-16T11:24:17","date_gmt":"2019-12-16T11:24:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/?page_id=2964"},"modified":"2021-06-04T11:01:36","modified_gmt":"2021-06-04T11:01:36","slug":"what-causes-the-earths-climate-to-change","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/what-causes-the-earths-climate-to-change\/","title":{"rendered":"What causes the Earth&#8217;s climate to change?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\t<section class=\"hero-section hero-section-with-social\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1>What causes the Earth&#039;s climate to change? <\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Discovering Geology &mdash; Climate change<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"social-wrap social-wrap-inline-them\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sea-background-f\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share this article<\/span><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/what-causes-the-earths-climate-to-change\/\"><span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span class=\"hidden\">Facebook<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=What%20causes%20the%20Earth&#8217;s%20climate%20to%20change?&#038;url=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/what-causes-the-earths-climate-to-change\/\"><span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span class=\"hidden\">Twitter<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   onclick=\"javascript:void( (function() {var e=document.createElement('script' );e.setAttribute('type','text\/javascript' );e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8' );e.setAttribute('src','\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());\"  href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><span class=\"icon-pinterest\"><span class=\"hidden\">Pinterest<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/wa.me?text=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/what-causes-the-earths-climate-to-change\/\"><span class=\"icon-whatsapp\"><span class=\"hidden\">WhatsApp<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   href=\"mailto:?subject=What%20causes%20the%20Earth&#8217;s%20climate%20to%20change?&#038;body=Geological%20records%20demonstrate%20that%20there%20have%20been%20a%20number%20of%20large%20variations%20in%20Earth\u2019s%20climate%20in%20the%20past.%20(https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/what-causes-the-earths-climate-to-change\/)\"><span class=\"icon-mail\"><span class=\"hidden\">Email<\/span><\/span><\/a><a href=\"#\" data-copy=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/what-causes-the-earths-climate-to-change\/\" class=\"copy-url-on-click\"><span class=\"icon-link\"><span class=\"hidden\">Copy Link<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-bgs-blocks-content-container content-section\"><div class=\"container\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n<p>Geological records show that there have been a number of large variations in the Earth\u2019s climate. These have been caused by many natural factors, including changes in the sun, emissions from volcanoes, variations in Earth\u2019s orbit and levels of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2<\/sub>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Global climate change has typically occurred very slowly, over thousands or millions of years. However, research shows that the current climate is changing more rapidly than shown in geological records.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Icelandic_glacier_P912193.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;During the last ice age, the British Isles had many glaciers like this one, which is located in present-day Iceland. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_61379\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Icelandic_glacier_P912193-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"Skaftafellsj\u00f6kull Glacier, Iceland\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Icelandic_glacier_P912193-960x497.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>During the last ice age, the British Isles had many glaciers like this one, which is located in present-day Iceland. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Icelandic_glacier_P912193.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;During the last ice age, the British Isles had many glaciers like this one, which is located in present-day Iceland. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_61379\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"causes\">Causes of climate change<\/h3>\n\n\n<div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Strength of the Sun<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Almost all of the energy that affects the climate on Earth originates from the Sun. The Sun\u2019s energy passes through space until it hits the Earth\u2019s atmosphere. Only some of the solar energy intercepted at the top of the atmosphere passes through to the Earth\u2019s surface; some of it is reflected back into space and some is absorbed by the atmosphere. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The energy output of the Sun is not constant: it varies over time and this has an impact on our climate.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Changes in the Earth\u2019s orbit, axial tilt and precession<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW27130249 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW27130249 BCX9\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Normal (Web)\">The three changes in the Earth\u2019s orbit around the Sun \u2014 eccentricity, axial tilt, and precession \u2014 are collectively called &#8216;Milankovitch cycles&#8217;. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW27130249 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW27130249 BCX9\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Normal (Web)\">According to Milankovitch\u2019s theory, these three cycles combine to affect the amount of solar heat that reaches the Earth\u2019s surface and subsequently influences climatic patterns, including periods of glaciation (ice ages). The time period between these changes can be tens of thousands of years (precession and axial tilt) or more than hundreds of thousands of years (eccentricity).<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW27130249 BCX9\" data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45420\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45420\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45420 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Milankovitch_cycle_004_RGB-960x764.jpg\" alt=\"Milankovitch cycle\" width=\"960\" height=\"764\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Milankovitch_cycle_004_RGB-960x764.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Milankovitch_cycle_004_RGB-768x611.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Milankovitch_cycle_004_RGB.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45420\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Earth&#8217;s orbit. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>The Earth&#8217;s orbit<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW209483792 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW209483792 BCX9\">The Earth\u2019s orbit around the Sun is an ellipse (an oval shape), but it isn&#8217;t always the same shape of ellipse. Sometimes, it is almost <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 SCXW209483792 BCX9\">circular<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW209483792 BCX9\"> and the Earth stays approximately the same distance from the Sun throughout its orbit. At other times, the ellipse is more pronounced, so that the Earth moves closer and further away from the Sun in its orbit. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW209483792 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW209483792 BCX9\">When the Earth is closer to the Sun, our climate is warmer and this cycle also affects the length of the seasons. The measure of a shape\u2019s deviation from being a circle, in this case the Earth\u2019s orbit, is called &#8216;eccentricity&#8217;.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW209483792 BCX9\" data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26899\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26899\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26899 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Orbit-960x497.jpg\" alt=\"Circular orbit (left) and elliptical orbit (right). Elliptical orbit \u2013 when the Earth is closer to the Sun, its climate is warmer.\" width=\"960\" height=\"497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Orbit-960x497.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Orbit-768x398.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Orbit.jpg 1332w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26899\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Circular orbit (left) and elliptical orbit (right). When the Earth is closer to the Sun, its climate is warmer. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">The Earth&#8217;s axial tilt<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW215531824 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW215531824 BCX9\">The tilt in the axis of the Earth is called its &#8216;obliquity&#8217;. This angle changes with time, and over about 41 000 years it moves from 22.1\u00b0\u00a0to 24.5\u00b0 and back again. When the angle increases the summers become warmer and the winters become colder.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW215531824 BCX9\" data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45421\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45421\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45421 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/obliquity-960x814.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"814\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/obliquity-960x814.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/obliquity-768x651.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/obliquity.jpg 1352w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45421\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Obliquity. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>The Earth&#8217;s precession<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW29339653 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW29339653 BCX9\">The Earth wobbles on its axis, much like a spinning top that is slowing down. This is called \u2018precession\u2019 and is caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun upon the Earth. This means that the North Pole changes where it points to in the sky. Currently the Earth\u2019s axis points at Polaris, the North Star, but over thousands of years the axis moves around in a circle and points at different parts of the sky. It impacts on the seasonal contrasts between hemispheres and the timing of the seasons.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW29339653 BCX9\" data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45422\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45422\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45422 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Precession-960x779.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"779\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Precession-960x779.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Precession-768x624.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Precession.jpg 1074w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45422\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Precession. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Quantity of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere <\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/how-does-the-greenhouse-effect-work\/\">Greenhouse gases<\/a> include carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2<\/sub>), methane (CH<sub>4<\/sub>) and water vapour. Water vapour is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, but it stays in the atmosphere for a much shorter period of time: just a few days. CH<sub>4 <\/sub>stays in the atmosphere for about nine years until it is removed by oxidation into CO<sub>2<\/sub> and water<span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">. CO<sub>2<\/sub><\/span>\u00a0stays in the atmosphere much longer, from years to centuries, contributing to longer periods of warming. These gases trap solar radiation in the Earth\u2019s atmosphere, making the climate warmer.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Ocean currents and carbon dioxide content<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Changes in ocean currents<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ocean currents carry heat around the Earth. As the oceans absorb more heat from the atmosphere, sea surface temperature increases and the ocean circulation patterns that transport warm and cold water around the globe change. The direction of these currents can shift so that different areas become warmer or cooler. As oceans store a large amount of heat, even small changes in ocean currents can have a large effect on global climate. In particular, increases in sea surface temperature can increase the amount of atmospheric water vapour over the oceans, increasing the quantity of greenhouse gas. If the oceans are warmer they can&#8217;t absorb as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_50174\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-50174\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-50174 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/oceanCurrents_cretaceous.jpg\" alt=\"Ocean currents during the cretaceous\" width=\"500\" height=\"322\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-50174\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ocean currents during the Cretaceous. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_50175\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-50175\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-50175 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/oceanCurrents_present_day.jpg\" alt=\"Ocean currents present day\" width=\"500\" height=\"322\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-50175\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ocean currents present day. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW39189271 BCX9\">CO<\/span><\/span><sub><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun Subscript SCXW39189271 BCX9\" data-fontsize=\"9\">2<\/span><\/span><\/sub> content of the oceans<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW39189271 BCX9\">The oceans contain more CO<\/span><\/span><sub><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun Subscript SCXW39189271 BCX9\" data-fontsize=\"9\">2<\/span><\/span><\/sub><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW39189271 BCX9\">\u202fin total than the atmosphere\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW39189271 BCX9\">and exchanges of CO<\/span><\/span><sub><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun Subscript SCXW39189271 BCX9\" data-fontsize=\"9\">2<\/span><\/span><\/sub><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW39189271 BCX9\">\u202foccur between the oceans and the atmosphere. CO<\/span><\/span><sub><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun Subscript SCXW39189271 BCX9\" data-fontsize=\"9\">2<\/span><\/span><\/sub><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW39189271 BCX9\">\u202fabsorbed\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW39189271 BCX9\">in ocean water does not trap heat as it does in the atmosphere. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW39189271 BCX9\">The world\u2019s oceans absorb about a quarter of the CO<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun Subscript SCXW39189271 BCX9\" data-fontsize=\"9\"><sub>2<\/sub>\u202f<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW39189271 BCX9\">we release into the atmosphere every year. As atmospheric CO<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun Subscript SCXW39189271 BCX9\" data-fontsize=\"9\"><sub>2<\/sub>\u202f<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW39189271 BCX9\">levels increase so do the ocean\u2019s CO<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun Subscript SCXW39189271 BCX9\" data-fontsize=\"9\"><sub>2<\/sub>\u202f<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW39189271 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW39189271 BCX9\">levels.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW39189271 BCX9\" data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Plate tectonics and volcanic eruptions <\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Over very long periods of time, plate tectonic processes cause continents to move to different positions on the Earth. For example, Britain was near to the equator during the Carboniferous Period, around 300 million years ago, and the climate was warmer than it is today. The movement of the plates also causes volcanoes and mountains to form and these can also contribute to a change in climate.\u00a0 Large mountain chains can influence the circulation of air around the globe, and consequently influence the climate. For example, warm air may be deflected to cooler regions by mountains.<\/p>\n<p>Volcanoes affect the climate through the gases and particles (tephra\/<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/earth-hazards\/volcanoes\/volcanic-hazards\/#tephraash\">ash<\/a>) thrown into the atmosphere during eruptions. The effect of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/earth-hazards\/volcanoes\/volcanic-hazards\/#gas\">volcanic gases<\/a> and dust may warm or cool the Earth&#8217;s surface, depending on how sunlight interacts with the volcanic material. During major <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/earth-hazards\/volcanoes\/eruption-styles\/\">explosive volcanic eruptions<\/a>, large amounts of volcanic gas, aerosol droplets and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/earth-hazards\/volcanoes\/volcanic-hazards\/#tephraash\">ash<\/a> are released.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun Highlight BCX9 SCXW135150465\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX9 SCXW135150465\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Normal (Web)\">Ash falls rapidly, over periods of days and weeks, and has little long-term impact on climate change.<\/span><\/span> However, volcanic gases that are ejected into the stratosphere stay there for much longer periods. Volcanic gases such as sulphur dioxide (SO<sub>2<\/sub>) can cause global cooling, but CO<sub>2<\/sub> has the potential to cause global warming.<\/p>\n<p>In the present day, the contribution of volcanic emissions of CO<sub>2<\/sub> into the atmosphere is very small; equivalent to about one per cent of\u00a0 anthropogenic (caused by humans) emissions.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Changes in land cover <\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>On a global scale, patterns of vegetation and climate are closely correlated. Vegetation absorbs CO<sub>2<\/sub> and this can buffer some of the effects of global warming. On the other hand, desertification amplifies global warming through the release of CO<sub>2<\/sub> because of the decrease in vegetation cover.<\/p>\n<p>A decrease in vegetation cover, via deforestation for example, tends to increase local albedo, leading to surface cooling. Albedo refers to how much light a surface reflects rather than absorbs. Generally, dark surfaces have a low albedo and light surfaces have a high albedo. Ice with snow has a high albedo and reflects around 90 per cent of incoming solar radiation. Land covered with dark-coloured vegetation is likely to have a low albedo and will absorb most of the radiation.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Meteorite impacts <\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Nowadays, most of what is on the Earth stays on the Earth; very little material is added by meteorites and cosmic dust. However, meteorite impacts have contributed to climate change in the geological past; a good example is the Chicxulub crater, Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula in Mexico.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW35341857 BCX9\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW35341857 BCX9\">Large impacts like Chicxulub can cause a range of effects that include dust and aerosols being ejected high into the atmosphere that prevent sunlight from reaching the Earth. These materials insulate the Earth from solar radiation and cause global temperatures to fall; the effects can last for a few years. After the dust and aerosols fall back to Earth, the greenhouse gases (CO<sub>2<\/sub>, water and CH<sub>4<\/sub>) caused by the interaction of the impactor and its \u2018target rocks\u2019 remain in the atmosphere and can cause global temperatures to increase; these effects can last decades.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW35341857 BCX9\" data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"feedbacks\">Feedbacks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Each of these factors contributes to changes in the Earth\u2019s climate, but the way they interact with each other makes it more complicated. A change in any one of these can lead to additional and enhanced or reduced changes in the others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, we understand that the oceans can take CO<sub>2<\/sub> out of the atmosphere: when the quantity of CO<sub>2<\/sub>&nbsp;in the atmosphere increases, the temperature of the Earth rises. This in turn would contribute to a warming of the oceans. Warm oceans are less able to absorb CO<sub>2<\/sub>&nbsp;than cold ones, so as the temperature rises, the oceans release more CO<sub>2<\/sub>&nbsp;into the atmosphere, which in turn causes the temperature to rise again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This process is called &#8216;feedback&#8217;. A positive feedback accelerates a temperature rise, whereas a negative feedback slows it down. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<section   id=\"latest-content-2968-block_5f01eeda073dd\" class=\"grid-section  primary-background   \" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row header-of-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>You may also be interested in<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row grid-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/feature_homepage_p815563-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Ammonite p815563\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/feature_homepage_p815563.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/\">Discovering Geology<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Discovering Geology introduces a range of geoscience topics to school-age students and learners of all ages.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/feature_climate_P912184-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Iceberg P912184\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/feature_climate_P912184.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/\">Discovering Geology: climate change<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>What is the difference between weather and climate? what causes the Earth&#8217;s climate to change and what are the impacts? Find out more with our Discovery Geology climate change resources.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/impacts-of-climate-change\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Sandstone-Feature-Image-150x150.png\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Sandstone coloured red with iron oxides, indicating a hot climate at the time of deposition.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Sandstone-Feature-Image.png\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/impacts-of-climate-change\/\">Impacts of climate change<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Temperature rises can affect agriculture, sea levels and the frequency of extreme weather incidents. We can study past climate change by looking at the evidence in rocks, fossils and changes in the landscape.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/impacts-of-climate-change\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/the-carbon-story\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Carbon-cycle-feature-150x150.png\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Thawing permafrost in Herschel Island, 2013. Source: Boris Radosavljevic.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Carbon-cycle-feature.png\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/the-carbon-story\/\">The carbon story<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The carbon cycle describes the process in which carbon atoms continually travel from the atmosphere into the Earth, then released back into the atmosphere. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/the-carbon-story\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/how-does-the-greenhouse-effect-work\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Greenhouse_effect_feature_image-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"The greenhouse effect: some of the infrared radiation passes through the atmosphere, but most is absorbed and re-emitted in all directions by greenhouse gas molecules and clouds. The effect of this is to warm the Earth&#039;s surface and the lower atmosphere.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Greenhouse_effect_feature_image.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/how-does-the-greenhouse-effect-work\/\">The greenhouse effect<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Gases in the Earth&#8217;s atmosphere act as an insulating blanket around the planet, trapping more of the Sun\u2019s heat.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/how-does-the-greenhouse-effect-work\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/carbon-capture-and-storage\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/CCS-Feature-150x150.png\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Gasometer.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/CCS-Feature.png\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/carbon-capture-and-storage\/\">Understanding carbon capture and storage<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Carbon capture and storage involves capturing carbon dioxide at emission sources, such as power stations, then transporting and storing it underground. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/carbon-capture-and-storage\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/what-are-we-doing-about-climate-change\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/WhatWereDoing-Feature-1-150x150.png\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"What are we doing about climate change?\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/WhatWereDoing-Feature-1.png\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/what-are-we-doing-about-climate-change\/\">What are we doing about climate change?<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>BGS is committed to research aimed at slowing down the effects of a changing climate, whilst helping society to become resilient to climate change. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/climate-change\/what-are-we-doing-about-climate-change\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Geological records demonstrate that there have been a number of large variations in Earth\u2019s climate in the past.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":24085,"parent":1336,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"on","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"climate change, cause of climate change","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"17122,37470,8183,10174,34127,37384","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What causes the Earth&#039;s climate to change? - British Geological Survey<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Global climate change has typically occurred very slowly. 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