Without the greenhouse effect, Earth’s temperature would be below freezing. It is, in part, a natural process. However, Earth’s greenhouse effect is getting stronger as we add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. That is warming the climate of our planet.
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How has our knowledge about Earth's climate grown over time? Use our interactive timeline to explore important and interesting scientific milestones, including when carbon dioxide was first discovered and when we learned about the heat-trapping ability of gases.
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How has the geosphere impacted Earth’s climate? Typically, the geosphere reacts on geologic timescales, affecting climate slowly and over millions of years. However, the burning of fossil fuels over the last 150 years has sped the impact of the geosphere on climate.
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How Volcanoes Influence Climate
Ice Cores Tell the Story of Climate
Both direct and indirect measurements are important for understanding the true scale of climate change. Learn how scientists use indirect evidence to study both modern and past climate change.
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To understand how and why the climate has changed in the past scientists study evidence such as ice cores, coral reefs, and more. Learn about different types of paleoclimate proxies and how they tell the story of Earth's past climate.
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IPCC: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Measuring the Climate Effects of Volcanic Eruptions
Methane is an important greenhouse gas. Methane molecules have four hydrogen atoms and one carbon atom.