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Step 1
Understand the difference between manmade and natural causes. Scientists divide global warming causes into to two kinds—those produced by human activity and those that are natural or have nothing to do with man. There is a good deal of consensus about the natural causes. On the other hand, controversy still exists as to extent of the effect of the manmade causes, though many climate experts feel that it is considerable.
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Step 2
Look at the effects of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a common gas given off by everything from humans to power plants. The carbon dioxide accumulates in the atmosphere and traps heat, causing the planet to undergo warming. There are many different causes for excess carbon dioxide release. However, it's important to identify the gas as the main chemical culprit for global warming.
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Step 3
Consider fossil fuels. The great political debate raging today is about the carbon dioxide created by burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuels such as petroleum, which fuels most human activity such as transportation and energy production, gives off high levels of carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide production is greater than the production of other gases that counterbalance its effects and so, scientists speculate, warming occurs.
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Step 4
Know what water vapor does. Water vapor is one of the other major causes of carbon dioxide. As the sun heats water around the planet, some of the water gets converted to the carbon dioxide gas, which in turn contributes to the warming.
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Step 5
Factor in cyclical trends. One major point made by scientists and activists that don't think global warming is entirely manmade is that the earth undergoes periodic warming and cooling processes. Some scientists believe that the earth is coming out of a "Little Ice Age" that started a few hundred years ago. These experts assert that global warming is caused by natural periods of change in the earth's temperature and will eventually level off.
